karahafu　唐破風

KEY WORD :　architecture / general terms

An undulating bargeboard. The shape of a karahafu flows downward from the top center with convex-curves on each side. As the roof descends the curves change direction and form concave curves that level off at the ends or turn upward to varying degrees. The lower center edge, just about where the concave curves begin has a large board that is sometimes cusped *ibara 茨. Occasionally a gable pendant *gegyo 懸魚 is hung at the center top and called by its special name *unokedooshi 兎毛通. All the rafters curve to the same degree as the bargeboard. They are called ibaradaruki 茨垂木. The miniature shrine *zushi 厨子 in the *Shouryouin 聖霊院 (ca 1278) at Houryuuji 法隆寺, Nara, is believed to be the oldest extant example of karahafu. The karahafu appeared during the Heian period and is depicted on the picture scrolls of the period as being used for corridors, gates and palanquins. The term kara 唐 can be translated as meaning 'China' it may instead have connoted elegance and noble appearance. When the undulating gable is used at eave ends it is called nokikarahafu 軒唐破風. It appears above entrances to temple buildings, as gable ends on gates called *hirakaramon 平唐門 and when placed over a gateway entrance parallel to the ridge *munagi 棟木, it is called *mukaikaramon 向唐門. Undulating gables are used on the front of a step-canopy *kouhai 向拝.

nokikarahafu 軒唐破風： a) karahafu 唐破風　b) *unokedooshi 兎毛通　c) *ibara 茨 Iga Hachimanguu Zuijinmon 伊賀八幡宮随身門 (aichi) 　 Kenchouji Karamon 建長寺唐門 (Kanagawa)

REFERENCES:

*karamon 唐門, *chidori hafu 千鳥破風

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