''Chiwen'' ( zh, c=蚩吻, p=''chīwěn'', w=''ch'ih-wen'', l=hornless-dragon mouth) is a roof ornamental motif in traditional

Chinese architecture Chinese architecture () is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and has influenced architecture throughout East Asia. Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the structural principles of ...

and

art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

. ''Chiwen'' is also the name of a

Chinese dragon The Chinese dragon or loong is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture generally. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms, such as Bixi (mythology), turtles and Chiwen, fish, but are most commonly ...

that mixes features of a fish, and in

Chinese mythology Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature throughout the area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology encompasses a diverse array of myths derived from regional and cultural tradit ...

is one of the nine sons of the dragon, which are also used as imperial roof decorations. As architectural ornaments or waterspouts, they are comparable with Western

gargoyle In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed Grotesque (architecture), grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from ...

s, but are not related to the mythological character.

Etymology

The name for this dragon is , which compounds and . and , both literally meaning "hornless-dragon head". ''Chiwen'' is alternatively written , using the homophonous character . The and are additional birdlike roof decorations.

History

The origin of the roof decoration of ''chiwen'' can be traced to the roof decoration alternatively named as , the earliest visual examples found in the

Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

on many ceramic architectural models, ''que''-towers, and tomb murals and stone-reliefs. The ''chiwei'' were shaped like wings, associated with the Zhuque, also a commonly used as a roof ornamental motif during the Han dynasty. ''Chiwei'' was adopted as roof ornaments on palaces, temples and official buildings throughout the

Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu dominated China from AD 220 to 280 following the end of the Han dynasty. This period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and followed by the Jin dynasty (266–420), Western Jin dyna ...

Northern and Southern dynasties The Northern and Southern dynasties () was a period of political division in the history of China that lasted from 420 to 589, following the tumultuous era of the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Eastern Jin dynasty. It is sometimes considered a ...

, later expanded to be used by private manors of nobility in the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

. With the appearance and formal use of glazed roof tiles in the Tang dynasty, ''chiwei'' were also often glazed in green and blue colors, as seen often in the murals of Mogao Grottoes. Over the course of the mid-Tang dynasty, the fish-like ''chiwen'' became another prevailing ornamental motif alongside the ''chiwei''. In the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...

, ''chiwen'' fully replaced the ''chiwei'' and adopted a more dragon-like appearance while also retaining some of their predecessor's bird-like features such as wings or bird's head. The technical treastise '' Yingzao Fashi'' details the proper elements and terminology of the ''chiwen'' and formalises their construction and measurements. By the Ming and

Qing dynasties The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

, the ''chiwen'' was widely used in traditional architecture, their bodies and tail turning more inwards and became very ornate in appearance, with many variations based on regional styles and colors.

Symbolism

The ''chiwen'' is listed second or third among the , , which are traditional mythological creatures that have become traditional Chinese

feng shui Feng shui ( or ), sometimes called Chinese geomancy, is a traditional form of geomancy that originated in ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. The term ''feng shui'' mean ...

architectural decorations. Each one of the nine dragons has a protective function. The Nine dragons are also used in many place names in

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, such as

Kowloon Kowloon () is one of the areas of Hong Kong, three areas of Hong Kong, along with Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. It is an urban area comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It has a population of 2,019,533 and a populat ...

, literally meaning "nine dragons" in Cantonese ( zh, c=九龍, j=gau2 lung4, cy=Gáulùhng), as well as numerous lakes, rivers and hamlets in

mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...

. According to the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

"The ''ch'i-wen'', which like swallowing, are placed on both ends of the ridgepoles of roofs (to swallow all evil influences)." Welch describes ''chiwen'' as "the dragon who likes 'to swallow things'".

This is the fish-like, hornless dragon with a very truncated body and large, wide mouth usually found along roof ridges (as if swallowing the roof beams). His presence on roofs is also said to guard against fires. A paragraph in the Tang dynasty book ''Su Shi Yan Yi'' () by Su E () says that a mythical sea creature called the ''chi wen'' was put on the roofs of buildings during the Han dynasty to protect the structures from fire hazards. This dragon is still found on the roofs of traditional Chinese homes today, protecting the inhabitants from fires.

Fengshui Feng shui ( or ), sometimes called Chinese geomancy, is a traditional form of geomancy that originated in ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. The term ''feng shui'' mean ...

theory, a ''chiwen'' or ''chiwei'' supposedly protects against not only fires, but also floods and typhoons. The

Japanese language is the principal language of the Japonic languages, Japonic language family spoken by the Japanese people. It has around 123 million speakers, primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language, and within the Japanese dia ...

borrowed these names for architectural roof decorations as

Sino-Japanese vocabulary Sino-Japanese vocabulary, also known as , is a subset of Japanese vocabulary that originated in Chinese language, Chinese or was created from elements borrowed from Chinese. Most Sino-Japanese words were borrowed in the 5th–9th centuries AD, from ...

. "ornamental roof-ridge tile" is more commonly used than or . In

Japanese mythology Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Shinto traditions are the cornerstones of Japanese mythology. The history of thousands of years of contac ...

, the (a mythical fish with a carp's arched tail, tiger's head, and dragon's scales) roof decoration is believed to cause rain and protect against fire. This is a

kokuji In Japanese, or are kanji created in Japan rather than borrowed from China. Like most Chinese characters, they are primarily formed by combining existing characters - though using combinations that are not used in Chinese. Since kokuji ar ...

"Chinese character invented in Japan" that can also be read for "

orca The orca (''Orcinus orca''), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus '' Orcinus'', it is recognizable by its black-and-white-patterned body. A cosmopol ...

Gallery

File:T'ang Architecture in the Mo-kao Fresco 2.jpg, Tang dynasty fresco from

Mogao caves The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes or Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, form a system of 500 temples southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu p ...

depicting green glazed ''chiwei'' on architecture. File:Pingshun_tiantaian.JPG, Tang dynasty Chiwen on Pingshun Temple. File:Datong Shanhua Si 2013.08.29 12-49-06.jpg, Liao dynasty ''chiwen'' of Shanhua Temple Main Hall. File:Datong Huayan Si 2013.08.29 09-16-33.jpg, Liao dynasty glazed ''chiwen'' on Hall of Bhaisajyaguru, Huayan Temple File:Song-Palace1.jpg, Song dynasty painting of Kaifeng palace rooftop. File:Zhengding Longxing Si 2013.08.31 17-09-33.jpg, Song dynasty green glazed ''chiwen'' on the Manichaean Hall of Longxing temple in Zhengding, Hebei. File:Jidu_Resting_Palace_Jiyuan.jpg, Song dynasty glazed ''chiwen'' on Jidu Temple File:Datong Wenmiao 2013.08.29 11-45-07.jpg,

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

glazed ''chiwen'' of Datong Confucian Temple. File:Datong Guandi Miao 2013.08.29 11-10-41.jpg,

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...

glazed ''chiwen''if Datong Guandi Temple. File:Chiwei_tunjishou1.JPG,

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

''chiwen''. file:Emeishan.jinding.chiwen.jpg, Dragon shaped golden ''chiwen'' at Emeishan file:Pingyao.City_God_Temple.Chiwen.jpg, Glazed blue ''chiwen'' of Chenghuang Temple of Pingyao. file:2012-04-06 Chiwen on roof of the National Theater (Republic of China).jpg, ''Chiwen'' on roof of the National Theater of Taiwan. file:Chiwen, Xiangyin Temple1.jpg, Xiangyin Temple file:Longshan Temple - Dragon 02.jpg, Longshan Temple at

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. file:Changchun-Temple-San-Huang-Dian-0332.jpg, Changchun Temple,

Wuhan Wuhan; is the capital of Hubei, China. With a population of over eleven million, it is the most populous city in Hubei and the List of cities in China by population, eighth-most-populous city in China. It is also one of the nine National cent ...

. file:Roof corner detail, Yuyuan Gardens.jpg, Fish and dragon shaped ''chiwen'' of Yuyuan Gardens. file:Chikan Tower - fish.jpg, Fish and waves ''chiwen'' of Fort Provintia,

Tainan Tainan (), officially Tainan City, is a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in southern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on its western coast. Tainan is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "Taiwan Prefecture, ...

Chine Guangzhou Chiwen Sun Zhongshan gongyuan.jpg, Chiwen in Guangzhou Temple of Chukou 04- Dragons.jpg, Chiwen on the roof of Longyin Temple, Chukou,

Chishou.JPG, A ''chishou''

KongmiaochishouTainanTaiwan.jpg, ''chishou'' at

Taiwan Confucian Temple The Tainan Confucian Temple () or Quan Tai Shou Xue (, lit. "First Academy of Taiwan"), is a Temple of Confucius, Confucian temple on Nanmen Road () in West Central District, Tainan, Taiwan. History Kingdom of Tungning The temple was built in ...

Nagoya Castle Golden Shachi-Hoko Statue01.jpg, A golden

shachihoko A – or simply – is a sea monster in Japanese folklore with the head of a dragon or tiger or lion and the body of a carp covered entirely in black or grey scales.Joya. ''Japan and Things Japanese.'' Taylor and Francis, 2017;2016;, Accordi ...

on the roof of

Nagoya Castle is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan. Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...

References

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External links