frog-leg strut; curved wooden bracket
Architectural term for a curved wooden support placed above the main beam in traditional Japanese buildings. Originally structural, now often decorative. The shape resembles a frog with spread legs.
The frog-leg struts in this temple are beautifully carved.
Frog-leg struts were originally practical components that supported the beam.
Standard kanji spelling for this architectural term.
Variant using 蟇 (toad) instead of 蛙 (frog); both evoke the open-legged shape.
Irregular kanji usage; 又 replaces 股 but is less common.
From 蛙 (frog) + 股 (crotch, fork), referring to the shape of a frog with its legs spread open. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a straightforward descriptive compound.