Glossary · T
Tokonoma
Also called toko, tokobashira
A shallow raised alcove in a Japanese reception room for a hanging scroll and flowers; the seat in front of it is the place of honour. Its side post is the tokobashira.
See also: Shoin
Rules that use the word
The alcove fixes the order of the room. Place the tokonoma, a shallow raised alcove for a hanging scroll and flowers, in the wall opposite or beside the entrance, with staggered shelves beside it; the place of honour is the seat in front of it.
Where it appears in the book
In the chapters China, Japan and Korea.
A feature of Japanese architecture.
Nearby in the glossary
Thrust · Thrust line · Tierceron · Tile-hanging · Tondo · Topiary · Torana · Torii