What is a nightingale floor and how was it used?
Nightingale floors (鴬張り or 鶯張り, uguisubari) listen (help·info) are floors that make a chirping sound when walked upon. These floors were used in the hallways of some temples and palaces, the most famous example being Nijō Castle, in Kyoto, Japan.
How does a nightingale floor work?
The mechanism intentionally places planks of wood atop a framework of supporting beams loosely enough to enable a bit of play. When even a tiny amount of pressure is applied, flooring nails rub against a jacket or clamp, creating chirping noises that sound like little birds.
What was the purpose about Japanese nightingale floors?
When Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, built the Nijō Castle in Kyoto as his residence, he ordered his carpenters to install nightingale floors in its hallways so that any assassin trying to sneak into the castle will immediately alert his guards.
Are nightingale floors real?
“Nightingale” floors were a type of flooring system designed to make a chirping sound when walked upon. The most famous example lies within Nijō Castle. Built in the 17th century, Nijō Castle is a large fortification in the old Japanese capital, Kyoto.
How is a dance floor sprung?
A sprung dance floor is made up of closed cell foam blocks that suspend above a hard surface. These foam blocks are softer than the concrete under it and provide an even point of elasticity, allowing for extended practice and fuller dancing. These benefits are often considered the key to successful dance flooring.
What is sprung floor used for?
A sprung floor is a floor that absorbs shocks, giving it a softer feel. Such floors are considered the best kind for dance and indoor sports and physical education, and can enhance performance and greatly reduce injuries.
Are gym floors sprung?
A spring floor is used in all of gymnastics to provide more bounce, and also help prevent potential injuries to lower extremity joints of gymnasts due to the nature of the apparatus, which includes the repeated pounding required to train it. Cheerleading also uses spring floors for practice.
What type of floor does the NBA use?
hard maple
The standard NBA floor is made from acer saccharum, also known as hard maple. This specific variety is harder than most hardwoods and lighter in color. To turn these trees into a playable surface, the NBA employs three companies, Horner, Robbins, and Connor Sports Flooring.
What is NBA floor made of?
The standard NBA floor is made from acer saccharum, also known as hard maple. This specific variety is harder than most hardwoods and lighter in color. To turn these trees into a playable surface, the NBA employs three companies, Horner, Robbins, and Connor Sports Flooring.
Why are basketball courts so shiny?
The reason that the hardwood flooring on basketball courts look so shiny is because of the Hardwood Floor Finishes they coat on top of it. The key to a gym’s basketball court is to keep the slip factor rather rough, as it can become too dangerous if your floor has no friction whatsoever.
Do NBA floors have springs?
While you may not realize it, every time your foot hits the floor of a basketball court, it sinks slightly and springs back. Of course you don’t want this to be noticeable, otherwise you’d feel like you were playing hoops on a trampoline.
What is a nightingale floor?
Nightingale floors (鴬張り or 鶯張り, uguisubari) listen (help·info) are floors that make a chirping sound when walked upon. These floors were used in the hallways of some temples and palaces, the most famous example being Nijō Castle, in Kyoto, Japan.
Why does the nightingale have squeaking floors?
Legend has it that the squeaking floors were used as a security device, assuring that none could sneak through the corridors undetected. The English name “nightingale” refers to the Japanese bush warbler, or uguisu, which is a common songbird in Japan.
Where to see nightingale floors in Japan?
The two best places to see and experience nightingale floors are the Nijo castle in Kyoto, and Chion-in, a temple where the Tokugawa family used to stay. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.
What is the difference between dry board and nightingale floors?
While dry boards naturally creak under pressure, nightingale floors have extra metal clamps located between the beams that support the floorboards of the corridor. Each clamp has two spike holes through which an iron spike goes through.