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An engawa or en is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture, usually wood or bamboo. The may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resemble a porch or sunroom.
Usually, the is outside the translucent paper , but inside the amado 雨戸]] storm shutters (when they are not packed away). However, some run outside the . that cannot be enclosed by , or sufficiently sheltered by eaves, must be finished to withstand the Japanese climate. Modern architecture often encloses an with sheet glass. An allows the building to remain open in the rain or sun, without getting too wet or hot, and allows flexible ventilation and sightlines.
The area under an is sloped away from the building, and often paved, to carry water away. The area directly outside the paving is usually a French drain that takes water still further away. The is thus a way to bridge the obstacles good drainage puts between the indoors and the outdoors.
The floor may not be finished, or it may be polished or lacquered.
If there are fewer than three , an may be described by more than one of the positional terms.
In Shoin style buildings, the positioning of the varied more, and the storm shutters slid rather than being hinged (usually horizontally). The modern Sukiya style of building uses , storm shutters that not only slide but pack away in a cupboard called a by day; unlike the Shoin-style shutter, these generally run on the outside of the .
The width of an varies with the building; is common, while large temples may have over of . The is supported on posts, identical to the other uprights of the house. The posts stand on half-buried stones or concrete footings.
An is part of the house, and shoes are therefore not worn on it. Guests' shoes are lined up pointing outwards.
While declined with the Westernization of Japanese architecture, they are making a comeback in modern architecture.
File:Three children drawing, (on panels), Japan, 1909 LCCN2001705661.tif|Children playing on an ; they are drawing on the . Note shoes on .
File:『雨過洗庭之図』-A Garden Refreshed by the Passing Rain (Ukasentei no zu) MET DP147704.jpg|Traditional in fancier buildings often have low railings, for leaning on while sitting on the . Westernization of clothing made sitting on the floor difficult; modern often have standing-height railings
File:Tashiro_Family's_Old_Residence_03.jpg|Left, an running between buildings, joining them.
File:Korshagenhus 2.jpg|Modern in Denmark.
Structure
The is supported on posts, identical to the other uprights of the house. A row of uprights runs long the inside of the , and the sliding screens run between these; a second row of uprights runs along the outside of the . The posts traditionally stand on half-buried stones, pounded into the earth with a specialized maul, and the wood posts shaped to fit the upper surface. More recent houses may use concrete footings.
Terminology
means an edge; a side. The terms and were historically used interchangeably, but now generally refers to the [[veranda]] directly outside the shutters. Types of include:
Positional terms
Structural terms
Relation to other house components
The core of a traditional Shinden style building was the innermost room or moya (see diagram). This was surrounded by the hisashi, which was on the same level, and was usually inside the windows and storm shutters. The was often a ring of tatami-floored rooms, but could be an unmatted ; see also hirobisashi. In a large building, there could be further layers of tatami-floored rooms, courtyards, and further floorplan complications.
Cultural role
are often proportioned so that one can sit on the edge and observe the garden. They provide a space for playing children and casual visitors.
See also
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