sumi karakusagawara　隅唐草瓦

KEY WORD :　architecture / roofing tiles

Also nokisumigawara 軒隅瓦. Broad concave pendant tiles used at the eave ends of hip rafters *sumigi 隅木 on a tiled roof (see *hongawarabuki 本瓦葺). Even if the tiles are decorated with a motif other than the arabesque *karakusamon 唐草文, they are called sumi karakusagawara. Probably during the 6c-7c, ordinary eave-end pendant tiles *nokihiragawara 軒平瓦 were utilized at the corners of a hipped roof *yosemune yane 寄棟屋根, a hip-and-gable roof *irimoya yane 入母屋屋根 or a pyramidal roof *hougyou yane 宝形屋根. Presumably difficulties arose because the shapes of the ordinary pendant tiles did not fit the right angle of the roof framework that curved upward. Therefore, the need for specially shaped tiles at the corners was soon recognized. Two types of triangular corner eave-end tiles were devised. The simplest was a one piece tile, but it was less practical, because it was difficult to push the clay under it; whereas, two-piece tiles were more flexible. The clay could easily be pushed in and pressed down and the tiles were much easier to position and to adjust. Where an eave-end cylindrical tile *nokimarugawara 軒丸瓦 was set at the tip of the corner of the roof, the two piece tiles could accommodate the addition perfectly.

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