This paper examines textual sources on the intercolumniation in the residence of aristocrat which were written between the 10th century and the 13th century. The spacing between columns is not widely attested in texts, but it will be considered in light of the size of partitions which were set between columns. The texts reveal that the span between columns in the Shinden-zukuri residences was narrowed in the late Heian period, and I will argue that this phenomenon was linked with an invention of double sliding doors. In order to slide the doors smoothly, the height of the beam was lowered and the span between columns was shortened during the 12th century. It is most likely that the reduction of the space between columns was caused by the adoption of the double sliding doors.
