Futon

Futon (Japanese布 団, literally " material body " ) is the Japanese word for " blanket " and means in a broad sense " bed space / place to sleep ."

Importance in Japan

The futon is divided into a sleeping mat shiki - buton (敷 布 団, dt " Auslege futon " ) and kake - buton duvet (挂 布 団).

The shiki - buton is placed directly on the composite tatami-mat floor and consists of a cotton or silk shell that is filled with cotton. He is about ten inches high and one meter wide and 1.80 m long. The kake - buton, also called yogi, consists of similar material and is rectangular, but can also take the form of a kimono with sleeves and collar have. During the day, these futons are folded and stowed in a closet.

Makura (枕) the pillows are called. From the middle of the Edo period to the Meiji period, there were mainly two types, one simple pad roller Kukuri - makura and a separate head frame called hako - makura (箱 枕), it was provided with a small pillow roll and served to protect the hairstyle. The base of the wooden frame housed hairstyle jewelry. Sometimes was the hako - makura long enough for two people. For the summer, there were cushions made ​​of rattan and ceramic. Pillows, scented hair in his sleep, were called kō - makura.

There are also outside of the sleeping area, the seat cushion zabuton (座 布 団, dt " seat futon ").

Change of meaning in the West

The "Western" importance of futon has evolved as a synecdoche from the original Japanese term. It often refers to the combination of a low bed and lying on this bed mattress, the actual futon. While the idea of ​​was taken up " as close to the floor sleeping " without " sleeping-place = bed frame mattress " abandon the Western concept by lowering the bed and releasing the edges.

While the thin Japanese futon is almost exclusively filled with cotton fibers and therefore requires a lot of care, the western counterpart is additionally enriched with breathable, warm natural fiber inlays of horsehair, pure new wool, coconut fiber and natural rubber latex which both the softness increases, and decreases the need for care. The frame for the futon consists of wood and is usually made in beech or pine.