Komainu Set, Japanese Shishi Lion Statues

These very beautiful Komainu statue sets were made during the showa period. They served as protection against evil spirits at a Shinto shrine in Japan. This specific type is known as Sandō Komainu (参道狛犬), which in Japanese means the Komainu of the visitors’ path. The function of this Komainu is therefore to guard at the entrance of a shrine in particular.

Komainu statues (狛犬) are based on the Chinese Shishi Temple lions (石獅) that first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Just like in the art of the Japanese garden, China initially provided a major source of inspiration for Japan, after which they adapted certain aspects such as the Shishi statues to something truly unique to Japan. Although the Komainu have a Chinese Buddhist background, they are more strongly associated in Japan with Shinto shrines. But they are of course also regularly seen as part of Japanese temples and noble residences.

Each statue of a Komainu set has a specific shape. One has the mouth open and is usually located on the right side, the A-gyō (阿形), or A shape. The other has the mouth closed and is usually located on the left side, the Un-gyō (吽形), or Un shape. When you combine the statues together, the A-un sound is created, a well-known chant also known as Aum or Om that is found in multiple religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism.