komainu
Also known as lion-dog
thumb|260px|A pair of komainu, the "a" on the right, the "um" on the left
~6 min read
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Symbolic meaning
- History
- Origins
- Heian period
- Edo period
- Parallels
- Foxes at Inari shrines
- Okinawan shīsā
- Gallery
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- Citations
- General and cited references
- External links
thumb|260px|A pair of komainu, the "a" on the right, the "um" on the left
, often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion-like creatures, which traditionally guard the entrance or gate of the shrine, or placed in front of or within the honden (inner sanctum) of Japanese Shinto shrines.