hachiyō 八葉

Lit. eight leaves. Also hachiyō kanagu 八葉金具. A metal decoration carved into the shape of eight petals with a central projection known as *taru-no-kuchi, 樽の口 (cask cap). It is used on a gable pendant, *gegyo 懸魚, and to conceal the head of a nail, *kugikakushi 釘隠. A hachiyō with eight lotus petals, called hachiyō ukebana 八葉請花, is found on the square-box base, *roban 露盤, of a 2-storied pagoda, *tahōtō 多宝塔.