onigawara 鬼瓦
KEY WORD : architecture / roofing tiles
 
Lit. goblin-tile.

1 The genelic name for decorative roof tyiles found at the ends of a main ridge *oomune 大棟, or descending ridge *kudarimune 降棟. In the Nara and Heian periods they were usually decorated with flower or animal designs, and in theKamakura period with a goblin (oni 鬼) mask. Usually tile but occasionally made of stone or wood. Swirling or wave patterns found at the bottom right and left of the onigawara are called *hire 鰭. In the case of temples, shrines and palaces the terms *oni-ita 鬼板 or *hanagawara 花瓦 are sometimes rsed insted of onigawara.

法隆寺聖霊院
Houryuuji Shouryouin 法隆寺聖霊院 (Nara)

a) *oomune 大棟 b) *kudarimune 降棟 c) *sumimune 隅棟 d) *chigomune 稚子棟 e) *ichi-no-oni 一の鬼
Houryuuji Nandaimon 法隆寺南大門 (Nara)

2 A decorative wooden board used tha both ends of a box ridge *hakomune 箱棟, on cypress-bank *hiwadabuki 桧皮葺, and shingle *kokerabuki 柿葺, roofs. This is thought to be the earliest meaning of the term.
 
 

 
REFERENCES:
 *ichi-no-oni 一の鬼
EXTERNAL LINKS: 
  
NOTES
 

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。