bracket; corbel; ancon
A wooden bracket used in traditional Japanese architecture, especially in temple and shrine construction, to support beams and eaves.
The brackets in this temple are intricately carved.
The bracket, as part of the tokyō system, supports the weight of the roof.
Hiji means 'elbow'; hijiki is a compound meaning 'elbow wood', reflecting its shape.
Standard kanji form for this architectural term.
Variant kanji form; 肱 is an older character for 'elbow'.
Compound of 肘 (hiji, 'elbow') and 木 (ki, 'wood'), referring to the elbow-like shape of the bracket.