These round pendant tiles (J. taruki saki kawara) are in a somewhat smaller scale than typical eaveend roof tiles (J. nokimaru kawara), and they have holes at their centers. Roof tiles of the type seen here would have adorned the ends of the rows of rafters on the undersides of hip and gable roofs, with nails driven into their central holes to keep them in place. The eaves are decorated with a lotus flower design. These elements of Buddhist ornament can only be found at temples of the Asuka period (592– 710) and Nara period (710–794). The design of these examples closely resembles that of roof tiles used at Yamada-dera Temple in the period of its construction. 
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