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Gegyo, Hung fish

Gegyo, Hung fish

懸魚 Gegyo

Traditional Japanese architecture often features ornamental charms that symbolize water. It is because most buildings are made of wood therefore fire-prevention is one of the greatest concerns for long years. The most famous is 鯱 shachihoko, fable tiger-headed fish, placed on edges of castle's roofs, but developed after the late-16th century under the influence of an unbeatable warlord, 織田信長 Oda Nobunaga.

On the other hand, The usage of 懸魚 gegyo can date back at least to the 7th century in Japan as far as historical materials show. Gegyo literally means "hung fish" and fish here stands for water, a charm for fire prevention like shachihoko. It is believed that advanced architectural techniques that may include gegyo were introduced to Japan from China together with the influx of Buddhism happened in the 6th century.

Gegyo is a decorative ornament found in the center of a bargeboard under a projecting gable. Gegyo in Japan developed into so ornamental that hardly remain its original shape that is fish. It tends to be more elaborate as time went by. Some major designs are 梅鉢懸魚 umebachi-gegyo (image on the left) with a simple pentagonal or
hexagonal shape, 蕪懸魚 kabura-gegyo (second) with an upside-down spade-like shape, 三花懸魚 mitsubana-gegyo that has 3 petals like a clover (third), and 猪目懸魚 inome-gegyo (bottom) with small heart-shaped holes in kabura or mitsubana-gegyo. 


In the center of gegyo, it mostly has a small stick with a hexagonal base. It is called 六葉 rokuyo (literally "six leaves") and the stick symbolizes a stopper of water (sake) barrel. Imaginarily, it sprinkles water over fire when pulled out thus it is also a charm for fire prevention.

But not only superstitious meanings, gegyo has practical aspects as well. It protects an edge of timber from getting wet that can cause corrosion of the building material. Moreover, elaborately created gegyo adds dignity or sophistication to the building. Starting from religeous fascilities such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, it was later incorporated into houses of upper class, leading warriors, and finally castles of provincial warlords. Now, it plays an important role to supplement architectures with a traditional Japanese taste.


・the very fish ornament found today in Yunnan Province, China

・第3の探検 – 懸魚の源流を探る – ZENzine / 禅人

・第4の探検-さらに懸魚の源流を探る(1) – ZENzine / 禅人

・第4の探検-さらに懸魚の源流を探る(2) – ZENzine / 禅人

・神社仏閣で見かける懸魚とは？3つの役割について詳しく解説 | 職人手作りの兜を販売する伝統工芸品・木彫刻専門店（雛人形・五月人形）伊川彫刻店 (hori-masa.net)

・懸魚 ～ 火伏せの呪い (kabuki-za.co.jp)

・懸魚(ゲギョ)とは？ 意味や使い方 - コトバンク (kotobank.jp)



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