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[[Category:Japanese folklore]]
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[[Category:Legendary fish]]
[[Category:Legendary fish]]
[[Category:Mythological tigers]]


{{Japan-myth-stub}}
{{Japan-myth-stub}}

Revision as of 09:12, 24 April 2022

Shachi on the roof of Nagoya Castle
A shachihoko float used in Karatsu Kunchi festival

A shachihoko (鯱鉾 / 鯱) – or simply shachi () – is an animal in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp.[1] It was believed that this animal could cause the rain to fall, and as such, temples and castles were often adorned with roof ornaments (shibi) crafted in the form of a shachihoko, in order to protect them from fire. Those buildings were often made of wood, rendering them flammable.

When pronounced shachi (), it also means "orca".[2]

Japanese female idol group Team Syachihoko uses the animal in its name and logo.

See also

References

  1. ^ しゃちほこ (in Japanese). 三省堂 大辞林.
  2. ^ "しゃち" (in Japanese). 三省堂 大辞林.

External links

  • Media related to Shachi at Wikimedia Commons