19th century

Roof Tile

Known in Japan as onigawara, or “devil tiles,” these ornamental architectural elements performed a function similar to that of gargoyles, serving as protective symbols to ward off evil. This example depicts a dragon-like creature hovering above clouds and waves. During the Edo period, a mandatory switch from thatched or cedar rooftops to those made of ceramic tiles was instituted in order to prevent the spread of fire in urban areas.