An irori (囲炉裏, 居炉裏) is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth fired with charcoal. Used for heating the home and for cooking food, it is basically a square, stone-lined pit in the floor, equipped with an adjustable pothook – called a jizaikagi (自在鉤) and generally consisting of an iron rod within a bamboo tube.

Irori (pronounced ih-ROHR-ee 1 or ai luo li 2) is the god of enlightenment, self-perfection, knowledge, healing, and inner strength.

His followers seek to emulate their god’s divine state by perfecting themselves using the words of the Unbinding of Fetters, Irori’s sacred text. The illuminated pages of the tome detail numerous physical, spiritual, and mental exercises, as well as methods of learning and remembering.

Feb 1, 2025 · The irori, or traditional Japanese sunken hearth, is much more than a simple heating or cooking device—it has long been a symbol of the home and a gathering place for families.

Irori (pronounced ih-ROHR-ee) [1] is a god of enlightenment and self-perfection. His followers claim that he was once a mortal who achieved absolute physical and mental perfection and thus attained divinity. [2] He is one of the core gods of, if not …

Dec 12, 2023 · Illustration of a Japanese irori (firepit) by American scholar Edward S. Morse (1838–1925). This article looks at the form of the irori, its location in the house, its drawbacks and dangers, the social roles it reflected, and how it has survived.

Feb 2, 2023 · An irori (sunken hearth) is a traditional fireplace found in the middle of a room. It is typically used in farmhouses throughout rural Japan. A square opening is cut in the floor to allow firewood and coal to be placed inside. This cozy hearth provides enough heat for the entire room.

Dec 18, 2013 · But before the kotatsu there was the irori, the Japanese hearth. It is a sunken hearth in the middle of the traditional Japanese living room, filled with fine sand and ashes. Contrary to common sense it is always made of wood, the sand protecting the fire-hardy pear tree heartwood from burning.

Feb 1, 2019 · Before its invention, the Japanese survived the winter by huddling around the irori. Historically, these traditional hearths could be found sunken into the floors of Japanese farmhouses and other domiciles. Now contrary to what one might expect from modern safety codes, irori were always sculpted from the wood of hearty trees.

Feb 15, 2022 · What is Irori (sunken hearth)? Irori is also called "sunken hearth" or " fireplace" in Japanese and refers to the square or rectangular hearths used in traditional Japanese houses. It was used to heat a room by burning charcoal or firewood in the ash-lined hearth, to cook pots and pans by hanging them on hooks above th