Talismans 犬山城 魔除け

Official explanation

Some of the decorative features of Inuyama Castle serve as talismans (mayoke) to guard against disasters such as lightning strikes and fire, which were an ever-present threat to this predominantly wooden building. Among these talismans are clay tiles that adorn the castle’s roof and are shaped like turtle shells topped with peaches. These symbols are borrowed from ancient Chinese traditions and are believed to ward off evil.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.