shikidai-no-ma　式台の間

KEY WORD :　architecture / aristocratic dwellings

Also written 色代の間. A room or building that projects from (or adjacent and linked by galleries to ) the rear of the main reception hall shuden 主殿 in the residences of leading warriors bukeyashiki 武家屋敷 especially in the 16-17c. The term appears in the carpenters' manual SHOUMEI 匠明 (1608), written with the characters 色代. In modern texts it is usually written 式台. The shikidai-no-ma was constructed at the lower end *shimote 下手 of the main hall, with the ridge of its roof at right angles to the hall. It often formed a link between the main hall and the guard house, touzamurai 遠侍. Originally, it was a waiting area for retainers, but later became associated with the formal entry area, and ceremonial exchanges of greetings with visitors took place there. The shikidai-no-ma sometimes replaced the toozamurai, and in this case it might have a formal entry porch *genkan 玄関 projecting from it. Since the shikidai-no-ma was used for audiences, many developed examples contained a large decorative recess ootoko 大床 up to 4 bays in length, in the principle room. An example of the shikidai-no-ma can be seen in the Kaitokukan 懐徳館 in Kouchijou 高知城 (1747-9). The term is often abbreviated to *shikidai 式台.

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