Lit. "goblin-tile."
1 The generic name for decorative roof tiles found at the ends of a main ridge *ōmune 大棟, or descending ridge *kudarimune 降棟. In the Nara and Heian periods they were usually decorated with flower or animal designs, and in the Kamakura period with a goblin oni 鬼 mask. Usually tile but occasionally made of stone or wood. Swirling or wave patterns found at the bottom right and left of the onigawara are called *hire 鰭. In the case of temples, shrines and palaces the terms *oni-ita 鬼板 or *hanagawara 花瓦 are sometimes used insted of onigawara.
Hōryūji Shōryōin 法隆寺聖霊院 (Nara)
a) *ōmune 大棟 b) *kudarimune 降棟 c) *sumimune 隅棟 d) *chigomune 稚子棟 e) *ichi-no-oni 一の鬼
Hōryūji Nandaimon 法隆寺南大門 (Nara)
2 A decorative wooden board used the both ends of a box ridge *hakomune 箱棟, on cypress-bank *hiwadabuki 桧皮葺, and shingle *kokerabuki 柿葺, roofs. This is thought to be the earliest meaning of the term.