Onigawara

Onigawara (鬼瓦, lit. ogre tile) are a type of roof ornamentation found in Japanese architecture. They are generally roof tiles or statues depicting a Japanese ogre (oni) or a fearsome beast. 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] Onigawara are most often found on Buddhist temples. The tile's name notwithstanding, the ogre's face may be missing.

Images

• 
• 
  Jōdo-ji
• 
  Zenkoku-ji
• 
• 
  Cintamani
• 
  Kinchaku
• 
  Kinko Sennin (Immortal being riding carp)
• 
  Uchide no kozuchi
• 
  Common carp

See also

• Chimera (architecture)
• Gargoyle
• Imperial roof decoration
• Japanese architecture
• Jisaburō Ozawa, an admiral nicknamed "Onigawara" by his men
• Shachihoko
• Shibi (roof tile)
• Shisa

Notes

References

External links

Styles

Secular	Azekura Buke Gassho Giyōfū Hirairi Imperial Crown Style Jutaku Omoya Shinden Shoin Sukiya
Religious	Shinto Azekura Hachiman Hiyoshi (Hie) Irimoya Ishi-no-ma Kasuga Kibitsu Nagare Shinmei Sumiyoshi Taisha Buddhist Daibutsuyō Ōbaku Zen Setchūyō Wayō Zenshūyō

Types of building

Secular	Castle Chashitsu Kura Machiya Minka Yagura
Religious	Shinto Haiden Heiden Hokora Honden Kofun Setsumatsusha Shinto shrine Torii Buddhist Butsuden Dō Hōkyōintō Kyōzō Main Hall Pagoda Shichidō garan Shōrō Tahōtō

Roof stylesStructural and spatialRoomsFurnishingsPartitionsOutdoor objectsMeasurementsOrganizationsRelated topics

Groups of Traditional Buildings Iki Japanese garden (rock (Zen)) Kumiko Ryokan Sentō Wabi-sabi Yabo
National Treasures	Castles Residences Shrines Temples Other structures