Decorative wooden boards (also known as “gable pendants” and gegyo in Japanese) were used under the gables of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and castles for 1400 years.

During the Edo period a new version was designed, made of structures located on both sides of the roof, like in this photo taken at the Toshougu Shrine in Nikko. Gegyo were sculpted in many forms, the ones in the photo being the oldest, inome gegyo (boar’s-eye gable pendant), decorated with three heart-shaped holes.

Kamijinko, Toshougu Shrine, Nikko

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, autumn leaves at Saruhashi