Details
Ise Shrine
The detail at right shows the distinctive wood and bronze elements that adorn the rooftops of the principle shrine structures at Ise. The cylindrical forms that straddle the roof ridge are called "katsuogi." They are now purely ornamental but have their origins in the roof weights that were used in primitive thatched construction, as seen in the reconstructed dwelling at Hida Folk Village on the left. The projecting x--shaped beams that rise from the gable ends of the shrines are called "chigi;" they are ornamental descendents of the structural poles that formed the gable ends in early rustic construction. Originally, they would have been lashed together with rope at their intersection. Both "katsuogi" and "chigi" can still be seen playing their true structural roles in rural architecture in Japan. Over time, these features have acquired imperial symbolism because of their use in shrines honoring the Emperor's ancestors, like those at Ise. <BR>
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