Ranma

In Japanese architecture, an opening between the lintel or inner wall of a doorway and the ceiling. For lighting, ventilation, decoration, etc., shoji screens, kumimono panels, or openwork or carved panels are fitted into this area. Depending on the style, there are many different names and designs. The prototype can be seen as early as the Heian period, such as in the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple (1053), and was probably built to allow lighting inside. Initially, the style was kumiko, with a simple transom with vertical and horizontal lattices, but even in the Heian period, by the 12th century, diagonal diamond lattices (hishi ranma) were often used, as in the Yakushi Hall of Daigo-ji Temple and the Mandala Hall of Taimadera Temple. In Zen architecture, there are many examples of wave-shaped transoms (bow transoms), and bamboo knot transoms and osa transoms were popular in the abbot's chambers. Transoms, which began in Buddhist halls, were eventually used in homes as well, and osa transoms became popular due to their neat and tidy beauty. Hanazama transoms (flower transoms), which feature floral patterns within a lattice, were the forerunners of gorgeous designs, but carvings were also incorporated into transoms, and from the Momoyama period onwards, those featuring elaborate, luxurious techniques became popular. In recent years, demand has decreased due to changes in housing styles, and it cannot be denied that they are no longer common.

[Kudou Yoshiaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本建築で、戸口の鴨居(かもい)あるいは内法長押(うちのりなげし)と天井との間に設けた開口部。採光、通風、装飾などの目的から、この部分に障子や組物、あるいは透(すかし)彫りや彫刻の板などをはめ込む。その形式により名称や意匠も多種多様である。平等院鳳凰(ほうおう)堂（1053）など平安時代にすでにその祖形がみられるが、おそらく内部の採光を目的につくられたものと思われる。当初は様式も組子(くみこ)で、単純な縦横の格子の欄間であるが、平安時代でも12世紀に入ると、醍醐(だいご)寺薬師堂や當麻寺曼荼羅(たいまでらまんだら)堂のように斜めの菱(ひし)格子のもの（菱欄間）が多用された。禅宗建築では波連子(れんじ)欄間（弓欄間）の例が多く、方丈には竹(たけ)の節(ふし)欄間や筬(おさ)欄間が好まれた。仏堂に始まった欄間はやがて住宅にも用いられるようになり、その端正な美しさから筬欄間が流行した。格子の中に花柄を入れた花狭間(はなざま)欄間（花欄間）は華麗な意匠の先駆けであるが、彫刻が欄間にも取り入れられ、桃山時代以降は豪華な技巧を凝らしたものが盛行した。近年は住宅形態の変化から需要も減少し、一般的でなくなったことは否めない。

［工藤圭章］

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