Fire - Anka

A portable heater used to warm the hands and feet in winter. An earthen firebox was placed inside a small box-shaped enclosure, and a thin blanket was placed on top of it. The word anka is an abbreviation of ankaro, and is said to have been popularized by Zen monks during the Muromachi period. Anka enclosures were often made of wood or earth, and were open on the front or both the front and back, with the other side enclosed, or only the front was open, with the other side featuring a crescent-shaped or other openwork design, so that hot air could spread in all directions. A firebox was placed inside, and tadon, oki, and sumibi fires were placed inside.

In the early modern period, yukibi was also called tsujiban because it was often used by tsujiban (guards) and other such people. Later, portable okigotatsu came into use, and the distinction between yukibi and kotatsu became unclear.

[Mizuo Miyamoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

冬季、手足を暖めるために用いられた移動式の暖房具。小形箱状の外囲いの中に、土製の火入れを置き、その上に薄いふとんなどをかけた。アンカの語は行火炉(あんかろ)の下略で、室町時代に禅僧によって広められたという。行火の外囲いは、多く木製、土製で、熱気が四方に広がるように、前面または前後両面をあけて、他面は囲いとしたり、前面だけをあけ、他面には三日月形などの透かしをくふうしたものもあった。この中に火入れを置き、たどん、燠(おき)、炭火(すみび)をいけた。

　なお、近世には辻番(つじばん)などでもよく用いられたので、行火のことを「つじばん」ともよんだ。のちに持ち運びできる置きごたつが用いられるようになって、行火とこたつの区別があいまいになった。

［宮本瑞夫］

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