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Onigawara

Onigawara on the roof of Tokyo University of the Arts

Onigawara (鬼瓦, lit. ogre tile) are a type of roof ornamentation found in Japanese architecture. They are generally roof tiles or statues depicting an oni (ogre) or a fearsome beast. Onigawara were historically found on Buddhist temples, but are now used in many traditionally styled buildings. Some tiles may depict things besides oni, but are still called onigawara due to custom.

History

Prior to the Heian period, similar ornaments with floral and plant designs (hanagawara) preceded the onigawara.[1] 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 tile was decorated with other motifs, but later it acquired distinct ogre-like features and became strongly tridimensional.[2]

Oni depictions
Other depictions

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "onigawara 鬼瓦." JAANUS. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
  2. ^ DeAgostini Kodera/Butsuzō DVD series, Hōryū-ji Archived 2011-02-21 at the Wayback Machine issue's pamphlet

References

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