Pillar clocks, often referred to as 'stick' clocks, were made to hang on the supporting column of a Japanese house, since the screen walls were not designed to support heavy objects. Pillar clocks were usually long and narrow, hence their nickname. They had simple four-wheel weight-driven movements at the top. Very early ones have a foliot; most have balance wheels; occasionally, later ones have short-bob pendulums. The single hand was attached to the weight and as the weight descended the hand passed a graduated scale, or dial indicating the time. More elaborate pillar clocks have a striking mechanism in the weight, activated by pins projecting inwards from the hour plates on the vertical dial. The striking pattern of Japanese clocks is unique; it proceeds backwards from nine to four starting at sunset (6): 6-5-4-9-8-7-6-5-4-9-8-7.