1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 95 



These dimensions were fixed by a law of the empire, which 

 also prescribed that the dimensions of rooms should be in 

 multiples of three feet, in order that the mats might be 

 readily interchanged or renewed. 



Warmth is derived from charcoal burned in an open 

 Mhachi, consisting of a square box set in the floor and filled 

 with sand, or in movable braziers. 



Furniture is reduced to the lowest terms. They sit on 

 their heels, and hence require no chairs. Their bedding is 

 brought from an adjoining closet into the living room, and 

 made up upon its mattress-like matting ; hence no chamber 

 furniture, unless we except the pillow, which is of wood and 

 about the size and shape of a brick. It rests upon one of 

 its longer edges, and upon its upper side is fastened a small 

 round sack filled with rice-chaflf. Upon this intractable 

 afiair the back of the sleeper's neck rests, while the head 

 projects into space beyond. Thus the elaborate head-dress 

 remains undisturbed, and the services of the hairdresser are 

 ordinarily required but once or twice a week. 



Their meals are set forth in little hand-dishes arranged on 

 trays, one for each person ; hence no dining-tables are re- 

 quired. Their food is cooked l)y boiling, broiling, or frying 

 over the open hihachi of the kitchen ; therefore no stoves 

 are needed. A small writing-table, about a foot high, a 

 sword-rack and a household shrine were the most common 

 articles of furniture in houses whose occupants had occasion 

 to use or possess them. 



In nearly every room of a Japanese house you find the 

 tokonoma. This is a shallow recess extending half-way 

 across one end of the room, the other half being made into 

 a closet or a cabinet of shells, exhibiting tasteful and decora- 

 tive joinery. The floor of this recess is raised four or five 

 inches, and here the dignity of the room is centered. It is 

 the dais of the apartment. A few kakemono or hanging pict- 

 ures, and the family legends painted or inscribed upon silk 

 or paper, adorn it ; while poetic inscriptions are likewise 

 displayed, or written upon dainty strips of cedar and hung 

 upon posts of the room. Similar decorations and paintings 

 upon the sliding doors, and occasionally a folding screen, 

 complete the adornments of their houses. 



