Roof Demons and Mud Walls

Toji

Two roof tiles on buildings of Tō-ji Temple

Tenryuji

A demon tile and examples of garden walls from the Tenryū-ji Temple in Arashiyama

Shorenin

At the Shōren-in in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto, despite the impressive outer walls of the compound, nature remains equally impressive.

Sanboin

The Sanbō-in was constructed in 1115. The temple was reconstructed and its famous garden added by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598.

Ryoanji

The Zen temple Ryōan-ji is famous for its dry landscape (kare sansui) garden, but the garden itself is also defined by its wall.

Iwashimizu

Founded in the 9th century, the large shrine complex of Iwashimizu. Hachimangū has been rebuilt many times using traditional materials. Even this important shrine, however, can show signs of age.

The kyōgen play Onigawara is set at the Inabadō, a temple in downtown Kyoto. The temple has been rebuilt many times, however, and no longer features demon-faced tiles. Even the historic tile on display lacks this feature.

Daigoji

The Shingon Buddhest temple Daigo-ji was also founded in the 9th century. Included in the complex is the oldest surviving building in Kyoto (the temple’s pagoda) and the sub-temple Sanbō-in.

Chion - In

Demon tile on the roof of the main gate (Sanmon) of Chio-in, Higashiyama

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