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[[File:Okinawan-home2.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A typical Okinawan home, on display at the [[Okinawa Prefectural Museum]]]]

[[File:Okinawan-home2.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A stereotypical traditional Okinawan home, on display at the [[Okinawa Prefectural Museum]]]]

[[Okinawa]]'s architecture, typified in its ''[[gusuku]]'' (noble & royal castles) and ''minka'' (vernacular residences), incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian influence in rather distinctive local forms. Red-orange earthenware roof tiles and the white Okinawan limestone used in walls are among the most recognizable, or often-cited, features.

[[Okinawa]]'s architecture, typified in its ''[[gusuku]]'' (noble & royal castles) and ''minka'' (vernacular residences), incorporates Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian influence in rather distinctive local forms. Red-orange earthenware roof tiles and the white Okinawan limestone used in walls are among the most recognizable, or often-cited, features.

Okinawan homes were often constructed in a style called ''nuchijaa'' (貫木屋). ''Nuchijaa'' homes are one-story structures built in wood, with red pottery roof tiles, and surrounded by white limestone walls. Sections of the wall are left open to allow for access, and for breezes to pass through; rather than being wide open, however, the entrance opening in the wall is blocked with a stone section called ''hinpun'',<ref>屏風 or simply ヒンプン. Though written with the same [[kanji|characters]] as ''[[byobu|byôbu]]'' - the standard Japanese term for a folding screen, which also could be said to serve to block wind - ''hinpun'' takes its name from an approximation of the Chinese reading of those characters: ''píngfēng''.</ref> which provides privacy for the family (preventing passersby on the street from seeing directly into the home), and is said to block the entry of evil spirits. A pair of ''[[shisa]]'' (lion-dogs), typically in ceramic, are placed atop the roof or on either side of the gate, also in order to protect the home from evil spirits.

Okinawan homes were often constructed in a style called ''nuchijaa'' (貫木屋). ''Nuchijaa'' homes are one-story structures built in wood, with red pottery roof tiles, and surrounded by white limestone walls. Sections of the wall are left open to allow for access, and for breezes to pass through; rather than being wide open, however, the entrance opening in the wall is blocked with a stone section called ''hinpun'',<ref>屏風 or simply ヒンプン. Though written with the same [[kanji|characters]] as ''[[byobu|byôbu]]'' - the standard Japanese term for a folding screen, which also could be said to serve to block wind - ''hinpun'' takes its name from an approximation of the Chinese reading of those characters: ''píngfēng''.</ref> which provides privacy for the family (preventing passersby on the street from seeing directly into the home), and is said to block the entry of evil spirits. A pair of ''[[shisa]]'' (lion-dogs), typically in ceramic, are placed atop the roof or on either side of the gate, also in order to protect the home from evil spirits.

During the time of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], red ceramic tile roofs were limited to the aristocracy; most commoners lived in thatched-roofed homes. It was only in the [[Meiji period]] that these restrictions were abolished, and the aristocratic style of house became more widespread, and became more strongly associated with being the iconic standard or stereotypical form of Okinawan architecture.<ref>Gallery labels, "Red-tiled roofs," National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11790013056/in/dateposted-public/]</ref>

During the time of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], red ceramic tile roofs were limited to the aristocracy; most commoners lived in thatched-roofed homes. It was only in [[1889]] that these restrictions were abolished, and the aristocratic style of house became more widespread, and became more strongly associated with being the iconic standard or stereotypical form of Okinawan architecture.<ref>Gallery labels, "Red-tiled roofs," National Museum of Japanese History.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/11790013056/in/dateposted-public/]</ref>

The home itself is elevated a short step above the ground, like Japanese homes, and is held up by wooden pillars, with most if not all of the walls separating rooms being comprised of sliding panels (i.e. sliding doors). Many of these are left open, especially in summer, in order to allow breezes to pass through to ameliorate the high temperatures and humidity typical of Okinawa's climate. A porch running along the front of the house, under the eaves, known as ''amahaji'' and facing the front yard, provides a breezy and shaded space to sit. More rural homes might have additional buildings, or additional areas within the walls, including livestock sheds, pigsties, vegetable gardens, and/or a well.

The home itself is elevated a short step above the ground, like Japanese homes, and is held up by wooden pillars, with most if not all of the walls separating rooms being comprised of sliding panels (i.e. sliding doors). Many of these are left open, especially in summer, in order to allow breezes to pass through to ameliorate the high temperatures and humidity typical of Okinawa's climate. A porch running along the front of the house, under the eaves, known as ''amahaji'' and facing the front yard, provides a breezy and shaded space to sit. More rural homes might have additional buildings, or additional areas within the walls, including livestock sheds, pigsties, vegetable gardens, and/or a well.

An additional structure known as an ''asagi'' or ''mae no ie'' is sometimes located nearby, serving as residence for an older member of the family, such as the retired former head of household, or his wife or widow, mother to the current head of household; such a space might also be used to house other family or guests.

An additional structure known as an ''asagi'' or ''mae no ie'' is sometimes located nearby, serving as residence for an older member of the family, such as the retired former head of household, or his wife or widow, mother to the current head of household; such a space might also be used to house other family or guests.

Many homes once had stone pigstys called ''fûru'' located nearby. These were divided up into small sections to hold pigs separately, and had either stone arches or thatched awnings as the roof. The construction of new ''fûru''-style pigstys was banned in [[1816]], and those with a particular style of feeding hole called ''tûshinumii'' were destroyed, for reasons of health and sanitation; in the postwar era, very few survived or were rebuilt.<ref>Plaques at Ryûkyûmura architectural park, Onna-son, Okinawa.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15641995265/in/photostream/]</ref>

Many homes once had stone pigstys called ''fûru'' located nearby. These were divided up into small sections to hold pigs separately, and had either stone arches or thatched awnings as the roof. The construction of new ''fûru''-style pigstys was banned in [[1816]], and those with a particular style of feeding hole called ''tûshinumii''<!--東司の穴--> were destroyed, for reasons of health and sanitation; in the postwar era, very few survived or were rebuilt.<ref>Plaques at Ryûkyûmura architectural park, Onna-son, Okinawa.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15641995265/in/photostream/]</ref>

 

In the [[Amami Islands]] and some other areas of the Ryukyus, kitchens ([[Amami language]]: ''toogura'') were traditionally housed in a separate structure, linked to the main house (''omote'') by a small bridge-like walkway known as a ''toima'' or ''kayoi''. The size and layout of these two structures, as well as their locations relative to one another, varied from case to case. Homes typically included a number of other small structures as well, including for housing animals and for doing craftwork or other small-scale work. Elevated storehouses known as ''[[takakura]]'' were also a common feature of such homes. The entire 'compound' would be surrounded in stone walls or hedges, to help protect against typhoons.<ref>Gallery labels, ''Amami no minka'', Amami Nature and Culture Centre, Amami Ôshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490986076/sizes/l/]</ref>

==References==

==References==

*Gallery labels, Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

*Gallery labels, Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

*Suzuki Kakichi, et al. "Ryukyuan Architecture: Its History and Features," ''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' 沖縄美術全集, vol 5, Okinawa Times (1989), 87-111.

*Suzuki Kakichi, et al. "Ryukyuan Architecture: Its History and Features," ''Okinawa bijutsu zenshû'' 沖縄美術全集, vol 5, Okinawa Times (1989), 87-111.

*Plaque, [[Jitodai|Jitude's]] House, Okinawa Furusato Mura, Ocean Expo Park, Nakijin.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15642383285/sizes/k/]

*Plaques at Okinawa Furusato Mura, Ocean Expo Park, Nago.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15455791259/sizes/l],[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15642383285/sizes/k/]

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[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Art and Architecture]]

[[Category:Art and Architecture]]