In the ancient palace of the emperors in Kyoto, tourists’s imagination is struck by the attraction “uguysu isu” - the nightingale floor. The wood planks, in a special way bonded to metal, make sounds at every step that are truly similar to bird singing . Such a floor served in the corridors leading to the ruler’s chambers, not only for hearing, but also designed to protect the person - it is silently impossible to walk on that floor, and if someone tried to do this, sneaking on tiptoe would increase pressure on the planks, and they would herald an intruder with a particularly strong sound.
In the literature
- The first novel in the series "Tales of Otori" by the Australian writer Liane Gern is called "Through the Nightingale Floor." This refers to the nightingale floor, which plays a role in the plot of the novel.
- The nightingale was described by Jan Fleming in his novel “ You Only Live Twice ” from the James Bond series.
- Nightingale floors are often found in Terry Pratchett's novel Interesting Times .