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A wharenui (literally ''"big house"'') is a communal house of the Māori people of New Zealand, generally situated as the focal point of a marae. Wharenui are usually called meeting houses in New Zealand English, or simply called ''whare'' (a more generic term simply referring to a house or building). Also called a ''whare rūnanga'' ("meeting house") or ''whare whakairo'' (literally "carved house"), the present style of wharenui originated in the early to middle nineteenth century. The houses are often carved inside and out with stylized images of the iwi's (or tribe's) ancestors, with the style used for the carvings varying from tribe to tribe. Modern meeting houses are built to regular building standards. Photographs of recent ancestors may be used as well as carvings. The houses always have names, sometimes the name of a famous ancestor or sometimes a figure from Māori mythology. Some meeting houses are built where many Māori are present, even though it is not the location of a tribe; typically, a school or tertiary institution with many Māori students. While a meeting house is considered sacred, it is not a church or house of worship, but religious rituals may take place in front of or inside a meeting house. On most marae, no food may be taken into the meeting house. ==Structure== The building often symbolises an ancestor of the wharenui's tribe. So different parts of the building refer to body parts of that ancestor:〔 〕 * the ''koruru'' at the point of the gable on the front of the wharenui can represent the ancestor's head * the ''maihi'' (the diagonal bargeboards) signify arms; the ends of the ''maihi'' are called ''raparapa'', meaning "fingers" * the ''tāhuhu'' (ridge beam) represents the backbone * the ''heke'' or rafters signify ribs * internally, the ''poutokomanawa'' (central column) can be interpreted as the heart Other important components of the wharenui include:〔 * the ''amo'', the vertical supports that hold up the ends of the ''maihi'' * the ''poupou'', or wall carving underneath the verandah * the ''kūwaha'' or front door, along with the ''pare'' or door lintel * the ''paepae'', the horizontal element on the ground at the front of the wharenui, acts as the threshold of the building The ''marae ātea'' comprises an very important open space directly in front of the wharenui, and is used to welcome visitors onto the marae. It also serves as an area on which to debate issues.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/index.cfm?dictionaryKeywords=marae+atea&n=1&idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan= ) 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wharenui」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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