koguchi kanagu 木口金具

Also koguchi kanamono 小口金物. A metal fitting placed over the crosscut end of a timber. The fitting on the ends of the rafter sat Hōryūji *Gojū-no-tō 法隆寺五重塔 in Nara is one example. These metal covers are decorated with openwork called *sukashibori 透彫. Besides being ornamental the metal fittings are also practical: they protect the ends of the structural elements from weathering.