Rain chain

Rain chains (Japanese: 鎖樋, kusari-toi or kusari-doi,^[1] literally "chain-gutter") are alternatives to a downspout. They are widely used in Japan. Their purpose is largely decorative, to make a water feature out of the transport of rainwater from the guttering downwards to a drain or to a storage container. (Rainwater is sometimes collected for household usage.) They can also be found on temples.^[2]

Rain chains are typically either a series of metal cups, chained together with a hole in the bottom of each, or chain links that span vertically.^[2] Rain water run-off gets distributed from a rooftop gutter downward through the rain chain.

Brutalist library at Nailsea

, England

Temple rain chain on a rainy day

Rain chains have also been used in the West. Nordic vernacular architecture often used a simple stick as a rainwater guide, in similar fashion. They have also been used in the

Modernist era, to juxtapose metal chains with a concrete or Portland stone facade. They are often seen in cup-shape, link and loop style, as well as decorative.^[3]

References

^ Breen, Jim (ed.). "鎖樋". WWWJDIC. Retrieved 15 July 2017. See rendaku for why multiple pronunciations.
^
OCLC 269310925
.

^ "Rain Chains". Retrieved 2023-12-08.

Lawn			Bird bath Bathtub Madonna Concrete Aboriginal Concrete goose Garden gnome Lawn jockey Plastic flamingo Suncatcher Whirligig Yard globe
Garden	Flower box Window box Eyecatcher Folly Garden furniture Hanging basket Landscape lighting Nest box Outdoor fireplace Rain chain Sculpture Suikinkutsu Sundial Topiary Tōrō Weather vane Wind chime Wishing well

References

Further reading