Windows and Their Meanings in Japanese Architecture

In Japanese architecture, the role of windows is not only for lighting or ventilation, but also for enjoying the view from them. Cutting out a piece of the scenery with a window, this is a unique way of enjoying nature. The view from the window is compared to a real picture and help to make architecture complete.
From the beautiful cherry blossoms in Spring, to the lively green trees in Summer, the various colored leaves in Autumn to the quietness of snow falling in Winter.
To feel each season through Japanese windows is the perfect way to enjoy nature.

Yukimi Shoji means the window for seeing snow. The idea of this window is to cut out the sky and everything above, focusing your view close to the ground to enjoy looking at snow. This is a trick to make people concentrate on the scene of snow falling quietly, with the ground being slowly covered with snow.

These separated windows divide the view into four different scenes. Each window cuts out a different part of the same scene, but the impression of each is completely different when set apart like this.

The circle window on the left is named "the window of spiritual enlightenment". In Zen Buddhism, the circle represents an innocent figure without any prejudices. This window expresses the final stage of spiritual enlightenment.
In contrast, the rectangular window is named "the window of bewilderment".
That rectangle shape expresses a humans' life. The four corners of the rectangle express four pains people cannot avoid in their lives: to be born, to get old, to get sick and to die.