Encyclopedia of Shinto

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詳細表示 (Complete Article)

カテゴリー1： 4. Jinja (Shrines)
カテゴリー2： Shrine Architecture
Title
Katsuogi, Chigi
Text
Two characteristic features of shrine architecture, katsuogi refer to log-like sections laid horizontally along and perpendicular to, the ridge line of the structure, while chigi refer to poles that appear to extend from the roof's gableboards, intersecting at the ridge and continuing upwards for some distance. Katsuogi is also written 勝男木 or 堅魚木. In ancient times, katsuogi adorned the homes of members of the court and aristocracy, but they later came to be used only on the major shrine buildings. They are usually found in combination with chigi. The latter are believed to be a vestige of primitive construction practices in which roofs were formed by crossing and binding together ridge-support poles, leaving the extended tops uncut. In time, independent crossed boards were mounted on the roof as decorative elements rather than as part of the crossed and extended gables. These were called okichigi ("set chigi"). Normally, the ends of the diagonal chigi are cut at mitered angles either perpendicular (sotosogi) or parallel (uchisogi) to the ground, leading to the alternate name katasogi ("miters"). In any event, the original purpose of chigi was as a functional reinforcement to the structure, but today, most serve as symbols emphasizing the sacred nature of the structure. At the Grand Shrines of Ise, shrine buildings dedicated to male kami are traditionally given an odd number of katsuogi and the ends of chigi are cut perpendicular to the ground, while shrines to female kami have an even number of katsuogi, and chigi are cut parallel to the ground. Many other shrines follow this practice.
— Nakayama Kaoru

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The katsuogi and chigi (roof ornamentation) of the main building of Sumiyoshi Taisha. The chigi is shaped like a cross or a "X", the katsuogi are the long beams perpendicular to the spine of the roof.
2006年 **月 **日
Ōsawa Kōji

Chigi at Izumo Taisha_Tsujimura Shinobu___2005****_Shimane Prefecture