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komainu
EntityQ20155846· pop 17· linked from 1,336 articles

Also known as lion-dog

thumb|260px|A pair of komainu, the "a" on the right, the "um" on the left

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TakaoKomaInu.jpg
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name in kana
こまいぬ
Commons category
Komainu
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~6 min read

Article

15 sections
Contents
  • 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.

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