土壇
ど
だ
ん
Meanings
1
dirt mound; earthen platform
General term for a raised area made of packed earth.
A dirt mound was built around the castle.
2
dirt walls inside a sunken hearth (tea room)
Specific to tea ceremony architecture; the earthen walls lining the sunken hearth (炉).
The inside of the sunken hearth in the tea room is plastered with earthen walls.
3
execution platform (Edo period)
Historical term for the earthen platform used for decapitations during the Edo period.
In the Edo period, criminals were executed on the earthen platform.