U+9BF1 "鯱" CJK Unified Ideograph-# Unicode Character

U+9BF1 "鯱" CJK Unified Ideograph-# is a rare Chinese character primarily used in East Asian contexts, especially in Japanese, where it denotes the mythical creature known as the shachihoko, a sea monster or dragon-fish often depicted with a tiger's head and a carp's body. In traditional Japanese architecture, the shachihoko is commonly found as an ornamental finial on the roofs of castles and temples, believed to bring protection against fire and other calamities. The character itself is composed of the radical for "fish" combined with a phonetic component, reflecting its aquatic and mythological associations. While not common in everyday modern usage, it retains cultural significance in art, heraldry, and historical studies related to Japanese folklore and design.