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合掌造り (がっしょうづくり) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
gassho-zukuri ; steep thatched-roof style
A traditional Japanese architectural style characterized by steeply pitched thatched roofs resembling hands in prayer (合掌). Most famously seen in the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.
の
屋や
根ね
は
雪ゆき
が
滑すべ
り
落お
ち
やすい
よう
に
急きゅう
勾こう
配ばい
に
なっ
て
いる
。
The roofs of gassho-zukuri are steeply pitched so that snow slides off easily.
Written forms 合がっ 掌しょう 造づく り
Standard kanji spelling for this architectural term.
合がっ 掌しょう 造づくり
Variant spelling without the okurigana り; less common but still encountered.
Kanji 掌 palm of hand, rule, administer Similar words 合がっ 掌しょう 合掌 means 'pressing one's palms together in prayer'; 合掌造り is the architectural style named after this shape.
茅かや 葺ぶ き 茅葺き refers to thatched roofing in general, while 合掌造り is a specific architectural style that uses thatched roofs.
Etymology From 合掌 (がっしょう, 'pressing palms together in prayer') + 造り (づくり, 'construction, style'), referring to the steep roof shape resembling praying hands.
