Also read zōhana. A beam projection or nosing *kibana 木鼻, molded or carved to resemble an elephant head. Commonly found in the daibutsu style of architecture *daibutsuyō 大仏様, which tended to use animal forms in nosings. An abstract shape suggesting an elephant head and trunk curled back on itself appeared in the Kamakura period, on the worship hall Haiden 拝殿 at Hachiman Jinja 八幡神社 within the precinct of Jōdoji 浄土寺 in Hyōgo Prefecture. A more realistic elephant's head and trunk is found on the main south gate Nandaimon 南大門 (1438) at Hōryūji 法隆寺 in Nara. Much more fantastic and elaborate lion nosings *shishibana 獅子鼻, and tapir nosings *bakuhana 獏鼻, became popular during the Edo period.
However, it is thought that realistic forms of animal nosings did not originate in daibutsuyō, but may have been inspired by the pedestals of the deities *Monju 文珠 (Sk: Manjusri) and *Fugen 普賢 (Sk: Samantabhadra), since Monju is portrayed mounted on a lion and Fugen on a white elephant.
