shachi 鯱

Also shachihoko 鯱, 鯱鉾. Lit. "killer whale." Fish-shaped ornaments at both ends of a roof-ridge. Thought to be derived from the ornamental ridge end tile *shibi 鴟尾, and to afford protection against fire, or to bring abundant rain. The head is said to resemble a tiger, and there are sharp spikes along the back. Made either of tile, or a wooden frame covered in clay and plated with gold or copper, or occasionally of stone. Often used on the roofs of castles, samurai 侍 dwellings, and tower gates *rōmon 楼門 in the Edo period, and on private dwellings from the Meiji period (after 1868). An ornate gold shachi on a castle signified the political authorityof the castle lord. Good examples of shachi can be seen on: the ridge ends of the miniature shrine *zushi 厨子 in Daihōji Kannondō 大法寺観音堂 (late 14th to early 15th century), Nagano Prefecture.