Machiya

Machiya are traditional wooden townhouses found throughout Japan and typified in the historical capital of Kyoto. Machiya (townhouses) and nouka (farm dwellings) constitute the two categories of Japanese vernacular architecture known as minka (folk dwellings). Machiya originated as early as the Heian period and continued to develop through to the Edo period and even into the Meiji period. Machiya housed urban merchants and craftsmen, a class collectively referred to as chounin (townspeople). The etymology of the word machiya reveals its two parts: machi meaning ?town?, and ya meaning ?house? or ?shop? depending on the kanji used to express it; either one is equally acceptable.

Related Topics:
Japan - Kyoto - Vernacular architecture - Heian period - Edo period - Meiji period - Merchants - Craftsmen - Etymology - Kanji

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