Komainu 観世音寺狛犬

Official explanation

Komainu (lion-dog) sculptures are typically encountered in pairs. They guard sacred locations such as temples and shrines by warding off evil spirits. The two sculptures comprising a komainu pair appear similar, but there are noticeable differences. One has an open mouth, while the other is a closed mouth. The pair also show distinct Chinese characteristics where one is sheltering a cub, while the other is clutching a mari—a type of ball.

Various theories have been advanced regarding the meaning behind this difference. Some say the open-mouthed statue is voicing the “a,” the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, while its counterpart is making an “um” sound. When combined, these two sounds result in “aum,” a sacred Buddhist syllable that signifies the beginning and end of all things.

Read the full explanation

The open-mouthed statue is 60.6 centimeters, the other is 62.1 centimeters tall. One expert has surmised that they date from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333).

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. 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。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.