Chigi

Chigi is a term with several distinct meanings in different cultural contexts.

In Shinto architecture, chigi (千木) are vertical, forked finials that project from the ends of a shrine’s roof or from the gables of some torii gates. They are typically made of wood and left plain or lacquered, forming a characteristic forked silhouette. Chigi are often paired with katsuogi, the short horizontal logs laid along the roof crest; together, these elements are a defining feature of traditional Shinto roofing. The exact shape and orientation of chigi can vary by shrine tradition, and their presence signals the architectural style of a Shinto sacred building.

Chigi is also the name of a historic Italian noble family based in Rome. Agostino Chigi (c. 1466–1520) was a prominent Renaissance banker who funded artists such as Raphael and commissioned the Villa Farnesina. The family produced notable figures including Fabio Chigi, who became Pope Alexander VII (reigned 1655–1667). The Chigi family later held princely titles, and Palazzo Chigi in central Rome—built by the family—became associated with their name; it has housed the office of the Italian prime minister since the mid-20th century.

As a surname, Chigi is of Italian origin and is borne by descendants of the noble family as well as others. The name is most closely associated with both the historic Italian lineage and, separately, with the architectural feature in Shinto shrines.