Shachihoko

Shachihoko on the roof of Nagoya Castle

A Shachihoko (鯱・鯱鉾) – or simply Shachi (鯱) – is a sea monster in Japanese folklore with the head of a dragon or tiger lion and the body of a carp[1] covered entirely in black or grey scales.[2] According to the tale, Shachihoko lives in the cold northern ocean. Its broad fins and tail always point up toward heaven, and its dorsal fins have numerous sharp spikes. It can swallow a massive amount of water and hold it in its belly, as well as summon clouds and control the rain.[3] Although believed to come from the sea, they are often constructed high on the roof standing upside down.[2]

鯱 is a kokuji character; when pronounced shachi (鯱), it also means "orca".[4]

  1. ^ しゃちほこ (in Japanese). 三省堂 大辞林.
  2. ^ a b Joya. Japan and Things Japanese. Taylor and Francis, 2017;2016;, doi:10.4324/9780203041130
  3. ^ Meyer, Matthew. “Shachihoko.” YOKAI.COM, https://yokai.com/shachihoko/ . Accessed 3 December 2022.
  4. ^ "しゃち" (in Japanese). 三省堂 大辞林.