rokuyō 六葉

Lit. "six leaves." A decoration pattern carved into the shape of six petals, and used on a gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚, to conceal a nail-head *kugikakushi 釘隠, on door-frames, gates, and on non-penetrating tie beams *nageshi 長押. Rokuyō patterns are carved into wood mokugu 木具 or metal *kanagu 金具. A metal rokuyō is called rokuyō kanamono 六葉金物. The rokuyō has a projection in the center known as *taru-no-kuchi 樽の口 (cask cap). Around this is a circular rim maruza 円座, surrounded by a chrysanthemum-shaped decoration *kikuza 菊座, surrounded in turn by the six petals, often shaped like hollyhock aoi 葵, or water-chestnut petals *hishi 菱.