court ladies' residence (Heian Palace)
Historical term for one of the five residences (五舎) for court ladies within the inner Heian Palace. Used in discussions of Heian-period architecture and court life.
See also: 五舎
Gyōkasha is one of the five residences in the inner Heian Palace.
五舎 is the collective term for all five court ladies' residences, while 凝華舎 refers specifically to one of them.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical building name.
Variant spelling using 花 instead of 華; both are attested in historical sources.
The name is composed of 凝 (freeze, congeal), 華 (flower, splendor), and 舎 (building). The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it follows the naming pattern of Heian palace buildings.