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 kutsugata (沓形), meaning "shoe shape".
![](http://upload.luquay.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Shachihoko.jpg/220px-Shachihoko.jpg)
Shibi often take the form of a shachihoko.
See also
edit- Shisa, ceramic lions on roofs or by gates
- Chinese roof charms, multiple different species
- Chiwen, origin of Shibi in China
References
editMuch of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language version (accessed April 1, 2006).