Gassho-zukuri (clasped hands) minka (house of the people) was originally home for up to 20 people in Shirakawa, Japan.
The region where this house was built was not a good rice growing enviroment, but it was good for silk. Silk production is labour intensive, so extended family lived together to produce silk that they could trade for important staples like rice. Wikipedia link. Richard Telford
Click here to see description of the principle.
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