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*** click to
enlarge any image *** |
Japanese Shrine Dogs - Komainu
 Shinto
is the native religion of Japan and many Shinto
shrines will include two fierce-looking dog statues (see the next-to-last image below)
guarding their entrance. The dogs (well, actually one is a lion), are
normally seen as a pair and are typically found seated just inside the
distinctive torii shrine gate. When entering the shrine the figure
on the right (that's the lion) with the open mouth is thought to be uttering the
sound "ah"
(meaning birth) while the figure on the left (dog) makes the sound "un"
(meaning death). In combination the two figures are tasked with protecting
the sacred ground of the shrine while the sounds they symbolically utter
represent the cycle of birth and death. If my description is a
bit confusing regarding dog vs. lion then this is because while the figures are
historically different animals, contemporary Japanese usually describe both as
simply "shrine dogs" or komainu. It is interesting to
note that Japanese Buddhist temples often have their own protectors guarding the
gates. The temple guardians though are not statues of dogs, but instead
are carved images of deities who are thought to be brothers and who are called
the Nio Guardians. The Nio are commonly seen standing with
fierce postures on either side of many temple gates. Like the komainu,
one brother has his mouth open while the other brother's mouth is closed.
Interestingly, the Nio are thought to be uttering the same sounds as the
komainu with the same symbolic meaning of birth and death. This
fact is yet another example of the interesting and harmonious coexistence in
Japan of Buddhism and Shinto, which together form the spiritual
foundation of contemporary Japanese life.
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Click
here
to see Komainu items available for purchase from our eBay store
The Old Tokaido |
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Click here
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Fox Messenger
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Dosojin
Highway Gods
Shinto gods protecting travelers and village
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here
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Kappa
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