THE DISCOURSE REGARDING THE CHIGI ON THE MAIN SHRINE BUILDING AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FESTIVAL DEITY

Abstract

In Japan, there is a belief associated with the ridge ornament on the main shrine building, known as "Chigi.", which suggests that ‘Outer for male deities, inner for female deities.’ However, there's little detailed discussion in architectural history regarding this belief, often considered unsubstantiated. Yet, some instances like Sumiyoshi Shrine and Kumano Nachi Taisha suggest its relevance. This paper aims to analyze Chigi's single-sided carving and its connection to festival deities, exploring its content and evolution through Shinto and carpentry texts.