fulling block; beating block for cloth
A traditional wooden or stone block used to beat and soften cloth. Often associated with historical textile processing.
In the past, people beat cloth on a fulling block to soften it.
In this region, a traditional method of finishing cloth using a fulling block remains.
Kana spelling is used when the kanji is obscure or for clarity.
The word きぬた is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 砧 is a kokuji (Japanese-made character) combining 石 (stone) and 占 (to occupy/divine), reflecting its use as a stone block for beating cloth.