are a type of roof ornamentation found in
Japanese architecture
has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors (''fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to ...
. They are generally roof tiles or statues depicting a Japanese ogre (''
oni
An is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. Oni are mostly known for their fierce and evil nature manifested in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. Notwithstanding their evil reputation, oni possess ...
'') or a fearsome beast. Prior to the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...
, similar ornaments with floral and plant designs (''
hanagawara'') preceded the ''onigawara''.
[onigawara 鬼瓦]
" JAANUS. Retrieved on June 12, 2009. The present design is thought to have come from a previous architectural element, the ''
oni-ita'', which is a board painted with the face of an ''oni'' and was meant to stop roof leaks. During the
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...
the tile was decorated with other motifs, but later it acquired distinct ogre-like features and became strongly tridimensional.
[DeAgostini Kodera/Butsuzō DVD series]
Hōryū-ji
issue's pamphlet ''Onigawara'' are most often found on
Buddhist temples
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represent ...
. The tile's name notwithstanding, the ogre's face may be missing.
Images
Image:Japanese shrine roof tile.jpg
Image:Ono-jodoji onigawara P4268760.jpg, Jōdo-ji
Image:Oni-gawara2.jpg, Zenkoku-ji
Image:Onigawara.jpg
File:波に宝珠図.jpg, Cintamani
Cintāmaṇi (Sanskrit; Devanagari: चिंतामणि; Chinese language, Chinese: 如意寶珠; Pinyin: ''Rúyì bǎozhū''; Japanese Romanization of Japanese, Romaji: ''Nyoihōju; Tamil language, Tamil:சிந்தாமணி''), also ...
File:巾着袋.jpg, Kinchaku
File:琴高仙人.jpg, Kinkou_Sennin
File:打出の小槌.jpg, Uchide no kozuchi is a legendary Japanese "magic hammer" which can "tap out" anything wished for. This treasure is also rendered into English as "magic wishing mallet", "lucky hammer", "the mallet of fortune", etc.
In popular belief, the magic wooden hammer is a st ...
File:鯉.jpg, Common carp
The Eurasian carp or European carp (''Cyprinus carpio''), widely known as the common carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia.Fishbase''Cyprinus carpio'' Linnaeus, 1758/ref>Arkive The ...
See also
*
Chimera (architecture)
In architecture, a grotesque () or chimera () is a fantastic or mythical figure used for decorative purposes. Chimerae are often described as gargoyles, although the term gargoyle technically refers to figures carved specifically as terminations ...
*
Gargoyle
In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls ...
*
Imperial roof decoration
Chinese imperial roof decorations or roof charms or roof-figures () or "walking beasts" () or "crouching beasts" () were statuettes placed along the ridge line of official buildings of the Chinese empire. Only official buildings (palaces, govern ...
*
Japanese architecture
has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors (''fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to ...
*
Jisaburō Ozawa
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was the last Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. Ozawa has been noted for his unusual height, measuring in at over tall, although his exact height has not been reliabl ...
, an admiral nicknamed "Onigawara" by his men
*
Shachihoko
A – or simply – is a sea monster in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp covered entirely in black or grey scales.Joya. ''Japan and Things Japanese.'' Taylor and Francis, 2017;2016;, doi:10.4324/9780203041130. Ac ...
*
Shibi (roof tile)
is a Japanese ornamental tile set on both ends of the ridgepole that tops a shingled roof. The ''kanji'' for the word mean "kite" and "tail" respectively. Because it resembles a shoe, it is sometimes also called a , meaning "shoe shape".
''Shi ...
*
Shisa
is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some ...
Notes
References
*Parent, Mary Neighbour. (2003).
Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System'.
External links
Japanese architectural features
Oni
Roofs
Roof tiles
Architectural sculpture
Traditional East Asian Architecture
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