1. Terminology
    Positional terms  Structural terms 

2. Relation to other house components

3. Cultural role

4. References

In Japanese architecture, an {{nihongo||縁側 or 掾側|engawa}} or {{nihongo||縁|en}} is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring, usually wood or bamboo. The ens may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resembles a porch or sunroom.

Usually, the en is outside the translucent paper shōji, but inside the {{nihongo||雨戸|amado}} storm shutters (when they are not packed away).^[1][2] However, some en run outside the amados. Ens that cannot be enclosed by amados, or sufficiently sheltered by eaves, must be finished to withstand the Japanese climate.^[3] Modern architecture often encloses an en with sheet glass. An engawa allows the building to remain open in the rain or sun, without getting too wet or hot, and allows flexible ventilation and sightlines.^[4]

The area under an engawa is sloped away from the building, and often paved, to carry the water away. The area directly outside the paving is usually a collector drain that takes water still further away.^[3] The engawa is thus a way to bridge the obstacles good drainage puts between the indoors and the outdoors.

Terminology

En means an edge; gawa a side.^[5] The terms en and engawa were historically used interchangeably,^[6][7] but engawa now generally refers to the veranda directly outside the shutters.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} Types of en include:

Positional terms

• {{nihongo||広縁|hiro-en}}, an inner en, possibly enclosed
• {{nihongo||落縁|ochi-en}}, an en set one step below the floor (or en) inside it
• {{nihongo||濡れ縁|nure'en}}, literally a "wet en", an en protruding from under the eaves and not protected by amado.

If there are fewer than three ens, an en may be described by more than one of the positional terms.^[8]

Structural terms

• {{nihongo||回縁|mawari-en}}, a wrap-around en, often a wrap-around veranda
• {{nihongo||切目縁|kirime-en}}, a en with boards running across its width
• {{nihongo||榑縁|kure-en}}, a en with boards running along its length
• {{nihongo||簀子縁|sunoko-en}}, a veranda with a slatted floor for better drainage
• {{nihongo||竹簀の子縁|takesunoko-en}}, a bamboo sunoko-en

Relation to other house components

The core of a traditional building is the innermost room or {{nihongo||母屋|moya}} (see diagram). This is surrounded by the {{nihongo||廂,庇|hisashi}}, which is on the same level, and is usually inside the windows and {{nihongo||雨戸|amado}} storm shutters. The hisashi is often a ring of tatami-floored rooms, but may be an unmatted en; see also {{nihongo||広廂,広庇, 弘廂|hirobisashi}}. In a large building, there may be further layers of tatami-floored rooms,^[10] courtyards, and further floorplan complications.

Cultural role

Engawas are often proportioned so that one can sit on the edge and observe the garden.^[11] They provide a space for playing children and casual visitors.^[12]

An engawa is part of the house, and shoes are therefore not worn on it.^[13] Guests' shoes are lined up pointing outwards.

While engawas declined with the Westernization of Japanese architecture,^[12] they are making a comeback in modern architecture.^[12][14]

References

• Goan Catholic literature
• Goan Catholic names and surnames
• Goan Catholics names and surnames
• Goan Catholics under the British Empire
• Goanese
• Goan Inquisition
• Goan Konkani
• Goan liberation movement
• Goan Peoples Party
• Goan temple
• Goan Temple Institute
• Goa Opinion Poll
• Go ape
• Goapele Mohlabane
• Goapl Krishna Goswami Maharaj
• Goapnauth Shoal
• GO Appleby
• Go A-ra
• Go Ara
• Goariva
• Goar, Jacques
• Goas
• Goa Sand Art Festival
• Goa Science Centre
• Goascoran