furosakimado　風炉先窓

KEY WORD :　architecture / tea houses

Lit. window in front of stove. A window opened in the wall by the host's mat *temaedatami 点前畳, opposite the portable hearth *furo 風炉, in a tea ceremony room *chashitsu 茶室. Traditionally attributed to Sen Rikyuu 千利休 (1522-91). The furosakimado provides light and allows heat from the brazier to escape. The window is usually filled with lattice made of ditch-reed and bamboo tied with vine *shitajimado 下地窓. Most furosakimado are 54.5cm high, 45cm wide and the sill is 21cm from the surface of the matting *tatami 畳, although the size can vary depending on the size of the room. Sometimes the window is higher than its width, and occasionally the sides have undulating edges. The window frames are usually plastered over completely, resulting in rounded corners. There are single grooves at the top and bottom of the window, allowing the sliding shutter *shouji 障子, open to about half way across the window. In a large tearoom where a screen *furosaki byoubu 風炉先屏風 is used in front of the hearth, the furosakimado is positioned higher than the screen, and an ornamental bamboo post is attached outside. Generally this type of window flourished after the small-size tatami, daimeza 台目座, came into being, and many were made during the Momoyama period. A good example can be seen in Katsura Rikyuu Shoukintei 桂離宮松琴亭, Kyoto.

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