Shibi (roof tile)

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Todaiji in Nara (The gold parts on top are the shibi )
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Todaiji in Nara (The gold parts on top are the shibi )

A shibi (鴟尾 shibi?) is a Japanese ornamental tile set on both ends of the ridgepole that tops a shingled roof. The kanji for the word mean "kite" and "tail" respectively. Because it resembles a shoe, it is sometimes also called a kustugata (沓形 kutsugata?), meaning "shoe shape".

Shibi often take the form of a shachihoko.

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Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language version (accessed April 1, 2006).

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