eaves lantern
Obsolete term for a lantern hung from the eaves of a building, used in pre-modern Japan.
In Edo-period townhouses, eaves lanterns lit the streets at night.
行灯 is a portable paper lantern, while 軒明かり specifically refers to a lantern hung from the eaves.
Standard kanji spelling for this obsolete term.
Variant spelling using 灯 (light).
Contains outdated kanji 燈.
Compound of 軒 (のき, 'eaves') and 明かり (あかり, 'light'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term describes a light source attached to the eaves.