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13 Things 2008
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
[email protected]
The societal structures which determine postural norms can be both physical (like architecture and furniture) and social (etiquette and customs). In traditional Japanese houses all floors are covered in tatami mats which make kneeling easier. Multi-purpose rooms with closets and drawers for storing furniture make the use of non-folding chairs difficult. The integration of seiza into a variety of cultural practices like the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy, and meditation places cultural value on floor-sitting.