Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
How the japanese Cover Their Floors.

From the CARPET Trade Review.
In Japan, however, the floors are universally
hidden by the tatami, or bedded mats. These
are of regulation size throughout the empire,
and in building house the rooms are divided
off so as to hold certain number of these units
of floor measure. A tatami, exactly 5 feet 9
inches long, feet wide and 81 inches thick, or,
6x3x2. The only difference between the
mats that cover the imperial floor and
those of the cOttagers is that the former
are larger in size and are covered with
gayer border. In ordinary houses this border
is black indigo blue. In the palace it is white
tycoon, as well as the place Of eminence Of the
mikadO, whom he initiated. was only square,
padded mat, few inches higher than common
and edged with variegated cOlors. A Japanese
only of cheap, unplaned wood, laid without
mortices. This floor is two and a half inches
below the grOOved sills in which the DOORS or
rather partitions, slide. Hinges are used only
On gates. Into this huge pan, SO to speak,
which the floor makes, the mats are laid and TT
snugly together, lying with their surface level
with the sills or grooves. The mats are the
household property Of the tenants, as landlords
rent the houses unexpected, as we do. In case of
fire, people pull up those expensive ornaments
and run. A collection Of tatami usually requires
the first outlay Of Japanese couple toward
housekeeping. Often these exQuisitely clean and
soft mats are the chief II not the only, articles of
furniture in certain rooms. The Chinese for
centuries have used chairs and lounges, but the
Japanese eschew these luxuries, using the floor
and its covering for ceremony and the occasions
OF eating, drinking and sleeping. The tatami
serve for tables, bedsteads, chairs and lounging
purposes. In palace and in hut, alike gultless Of
sitting machinery, has grown up that elaborate
system OF etiquet and ceremonial, renowned over
the world. Only BY the generals in the field
were folding camp chairs used. In the mOnas-
terry the abbot sat In state, or for reflection, in
the arm chair. The japanese have the word
"koshi-kake" (back-rester), but there Is no gen.
eral word nor equivalent for our simple word
''chair." Most Of the ObsequiOus and exagce-
rated politeness Of these Oriental islanders may
periOr is no higher than the floor the inferior
must bow low indeed. To salute properly, in
doors, one must turn his head into temporary
tack-hammer and pound vigorously on the
floor.
These tatami last nearly lifetime, as they
are trodden on not with boots, but only with
socks. Every traveller in Japan is charmed with
man, native or foreign removes his shoes, clogs
or sandals before he imprints them. Stocking
feet Is the rule indoors, and the native socks are
more thickly sOled than ours. The custom of
wearing boots is rapidly driving the ''cvilized"
natives to Danish the tatami and Law down car
pets. An English lady traveller recently speaks
of these mats as being 'sOft as Administer car
pets" though her statement that they are ssas
expensive as Brussels carpet" is an exaggera-
ton. There being, by the last census, over
1000, 600 houses in Japan, and each house aver
aging, at low computation, so tatamis, there
are override 600 600 Of these mats, Or in area 49,
GOO, COOS square yards. They are the very emblems
OF silence and cleanliness, and fashion may some
day demand that the tatami find q place In our
houses, churches and hospitals.