katsuogi

or are short, decorative logs found on Japanese and Shinto architecture. They are placed at right angles to the ridgeline of roofs, and are usually featured in religious or imperial architecture. ''Katsuogi'' predate Buddhist influence and is an architectural element endemic to Japan. They are often placed on the roof with ''chigi'', a forked ornamentation used on Shinto shrines. Today, ''katsuogi'' and ''chigi'' are used exclusively on Shinto buildings and can be used to distinguish them from other religious structures, such as Buddhist temples in Japan.

Origin

The original purpose of the ''katsuogi'' is uncertain. A theory is that the wooden logs were initially used to weigh down the thatch roofing seen in early Japanese structures. As construction techniques improved, the need for weights disappeared, and the logs remained only for ornamental value. Their existence during the Kofun period (250–538) is in any case well documented
by numerous artifacts.

Like the ''chigi'', the ''katsuogi'' was initially reserved only for the powerful nobility. It was first described in the ''Kojiki'', a 7th-century Japanese text, where it seemed to be something accessible only to the emperor. In the excerpt, Emperor Yūryaku (418–479) sees an official's house laden with ''katsuogi'' on the roof. Angered by this, he pronounces the official a knave and a scoundrel for building a house in imitation of the imperial palace.

Later in history, emperors granted families such as the Nakatomi clan and the Mononobe clan permission to use ''katsuogi'' on their houses. As these clans were fervent supporters and administrators of Shinto, the ''katsuogi'' would eventually come to decorate Shinto shrines. By the 6th century, ''katsuogi'' were beginning to be used on the homes of powerful families, along with ''chigi''. After the Meiji restoration (1868) their use in new shrines was limited to the honden.

Design

The ''katsuogi'' is usually a short, rounded log. Most are round, although square or diamond shapes have occasionally been used. Some are carved with tapered ends. More ornate ''katsuogi'' will be covered in gold or bronze, and decorated with the clan symbol or motif.

The number of ''katsuogi'' used on any given roof varies, but in general there is always at least one on each end. Earlier buildings tend to employ more ''katsuogi''. ''Katsuogi'' are always used in buildings constructed in the ''shinmei-zukuri'', ''kasuga-zukuri'', ''sumiyoshi-zukuri'', and ''taisha-zukuri'' styles. They are almost always paired with the ''chigi''. The angle at which the chigi faces and the number of katsuogi the building contains are used to identify the gender of the kami enshrined within. Upward-facing chigi, with an even number of katsuogi indicate a female kami. Outward-facing chigi, with an odd number of katsuogi indicate a male kami.https://www.kinoie-niigata.com/blog/2017/06/30/%E7%94%B7%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%A8%E5%A5%B3%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98/ This is not a hard and fast rule, as there are exceptions (such as the shrines in Ise Grand Shrine.)

See also

*Shinto shrine
* The Glossary of Shinto for terms concerning Shinto and Shinto architecture.

Notes

References

*Fletcher, Banister, Sir. (1996). ''A History of Architecture''. Architectural Press. .
*Chamberlain, Basil Hall (2005). ''The Kojiki: Records of Ancient Matters''. Boston: Tuttle Publishing. .

{{Shinto shrine

Japanese architectural features
Classical Japan
Roofs

ja:千木・鰹木