In today’s post we’re going to clear up one of the more confusing aspects of Japanese castle roofs. Before I go much further, I’d like to say thank you to Kedvin, a member of the JCE facebook fanpage, who asked what the difference was.
Step 1: identifying the gables
I’ve highlighted the five visible gables of Kumamoto’s Uto Turret below. And you can see Kumamoto’s main tower lurking in the background, which sports yet another type of gable. Ten points to anyone who can name & describe it (in the comments section of course).
Step 2: a closer look
The two gables on the lower floor look the same, right? The two gables on the second floor do too, don’t they? Yes, they do, so no help there. I’ve highlighted the three Irimoyahafu below, the now, un-highlighted gables are Chidorihafu. Can you see how they are different? No?
Step 3: Irimoyahafu truly are part of the roof, not add-ons
The painted blue sections below are the actual roofs of each layer, with the Irimoyahafus at each end. You can now see that the Chidorihafu look added on.
There is something else worth pointing out here – the key difference between Bōrōgata & Sōtōgata towers. Bōrōgata-style towers have Irimoyahafu (resembling the right side of the Uto Turret) and Sōtōgata-style towers don’t (resembling the left side of the Uto Turret). Sōtōgata would only have added-on looking gables (or possibly none at all).
I hope that cleared things up. Hey, I’m glad I was asked the question. We can all benefit from it. Would love to get your thoughts guys..
I truly love these kinds of posts, clearing up details of architectural terminology. Thanks so much! and keep it up!
As for the main tower in the background, an undulating karahafu gable is clearly visible. I’m most used to thinking of them as being over entranceways, i.e. on the ground level, but this one seems to serve only a decorative purpose.
Comment by Toranosuke — March 19, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
10 points to you Toranosuke!
You “truly love … posts … clearing up details of architectural terminology”? Alarms are going off in my head. sarcasm?
Over entrance ways or tacked-on toward the upper levels of a tower, karahafu are one of the more pleasing-looking features.
Thanks for getting involved.
Comment by admin — March 19, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Haha. I included the word “truly” in order to try to avoid it potentially sounding like sarcasm. I guess I failed at that. In all honesty, geeky and bizarre as it may seem – architectural terminology being, arguably, a relatively dry subject – I’m quite interested to learn about it, and I find you’re making it interesting and not dry at all.
Comment by Toranosuke — March 19, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
Haha!
Deep down I know it strange for me to like castles so much, and also your blog is of a far more sophisticated nature. So it was my own insecurities that led me to think I was on the receiving end of a baka ni shita.
Anyway, that was good for a laugh.
Comment by admin — March 19, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
Thank you for this information on the gables. Although I had heard of gables before, I was not familiar with them, especially in respect to Japanese castles.
Comment by Tornadoes28 — March 20, 2010 @ 1:00 am
Thanks for dropping by Tornadoes28,
I’m glad you got something out of it, it’s hardly a topic that sets the world ablaze.
btw, I visited your site way back because you’d done some posts on Katen no shiro. You know, I still haven’t seen it!! Sometimes, I surprise even myself.
Comment by admin — March 20, 2010 @ 12:31 pm