| The
inner section of the pendant *gatou
瓦当, attached to a semi-circular, convex eave-end tile *nokimarugawara
軒丸瓦. It includes the petals *kaben
花弁, leaf sprouts shiyou 子葉, and a central core, which can be called a
seed pod with a varying number of seeds *renji
蓮子. The space around the seeds is called *chuubou
中房. Small triangular forms fill the natural interstices resulting from the curve
of the petals. In some examples a thin line, distinct from the sides of the petals,
extends delicately to the central core. In other examples, the form is heavy and
broad and may have a raised nipple in the center. This part is called kanben
間弁 (between the petals). But it is thought to represent the pistil and/or
stamen of the blossom. The form is considered to have been introduced from Koguryo
(Jp: Koukuri 高句羅) in the 7c. A representative example of an early form having
a wedge shaped pattern called kusabigata 楔形, was unearthed at the site
of Minami Shigadera 南滋賀寺 in Shiga prefecture. Examples have been found at Heijoukyuuseki
平城宮跡 in Nara, and at many temples including the site of Kawaradera 川原寺 in Nara,
the ruins of the Funabashidera 船橋寺 in Osaka, the traces of Suufukuji 崇福寺 in
Shiga prefecture, and at the ruins of Takaidadera 高井田寺 in Osaka. When the broad,
concave eave end tile *nokihiragawara
軒平瓦, has an inner area separated from the surrounding border, this is also called
the naiku. |
