Ancient Divine Treasure, Property of the Wakamiya Deity
Silver-Plated Bronze Komainu Lion-Dog Statuette
This small bronze figure is one of the oldest known examples of a komainu (lion-dog) in Japan. Statues of this mythical creature often guard the entrances to shrines and temples. Komainu are typically placed opposite a shishi (mythical Chinese lion), and this statuette was most likely part of a pair. Traditional accounts suggest it once belonged to Emperor Toba (1103–1156), who was deeply involved in the establishment of Wakamiya Shrine.
The statuette’s legs and tail were cast separately and joined to the main body with metal pins. Another set of pins affixes the statuette’s front legs to its bronze base. The statuette’s single horn represents the male aspect, and its closed mouth represents the voicing of the syllable un. Its accompanying shishi would have been hornless, with an open mouth that represents the voicing of the syllable ah. Like omega and alpha, these sounds mark the end and beginning, respectively, and together symbolize the entirety of existence.
この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。