How to read the X in 5X4間?


A book about architecture I'm trying to read (it's a bit of a slog what with
the technical jargon and such) contained this description of a temple
building: 二重、初重５X4間、裳階 （もこし） つき、上重４X3間. So it's two stories, the first being
five rooms by four, with lean-to rooms attached, etc. I have a few questions
about this. First, how is the "X" in 5X4 read? Additionally, I'm assuming that
初重 and 上重 are read しょじゅう and じょうじゅう, respectively. Is this correct?




The English "by" is read 「かける multiply」 in Japanese. A 3x4 matrix, for
example, is 「3かける4行列」 in Japanese. I assume your readings are right in the
second part of your question, but can't seem to find them anywhere.




I think you are making a big miskate. As for `５X4間`, you interpret it as 'five
rooms by four', but it is not clear what that means, and probably that is
wrong. `間` is a traditional unit for length. It is approx the long length of a
tatami (about 1.8m). `５X4間` means a ５間 by 4間 rectangle.

