Jan 15 2010 | hugh ashton |
Although these beasts in front of Shinto shrines are called koma-inu (dogs), they’re actually closer to the Chinese lions that guard temples. One says “A” with his mouth open, and the other says “N” with her mouth closed.
This was taken close to our house. I desaturated the background to increase the 3D effect of the statue popping out of the picture.
Hugh has lived in Kamakura for the past 10 years, and in Japan (Hamamatsu, Mitaka) for twice as long as that. He has always taken photographs, but the relatively recent purchase of an Olympus DSLR and some lenses reminded him (i) how expensive a hobby photography can be and (ii) how much fun it is to go out and record images of the surrounding world. Some more pictures can be
seen here.
When he is not taking photographs, Hugh sells his writing (and sometimes photos) for magazines, for companies in the banking and financial services world, and teaches a few classes on presentation skills at a university in Tokyo. He has recently published his first novel, Beneath Gray Skies, and is working on the publication of another one (working title Sharpe Practice). In his spare time, he may be sometimes discovered playing Dobro (resonator guitar) in a variety of unlikely locations in the Shonan and Tokyo areas.
The shishi or lion plays an important iconographic role in Buddhism. The Buddha was from the “Shakya” or lion clan, and his principal epithet is Shakyamuni or the “lion sage.” Many depiction’s of the Buddha (and of particular Bodhissatvas) show lions on their thrones or with four lions standing in protection at the four corners. Large shishi are to be seen guarding the gates of Buddhist temples throughout the world. One shishi has it’s mouth open as if vocalising the sound “AH,” he often has a wish-fulfilling jewel under his right paw representing the knowledge of the true nature of reality and the law of cause and effect. The other shishi has it’s mouth closed, as if saying “UM,” to withhold accumulated knowledge. Between them they are considered to be making the sound “AUM” which symbolises all truth and reality. When the shishi were first introduced to Japan with Buddhist teachings from Korea it was thought that they were dogs, so they are also known as koma inu (狛犬) Korean dogs.
Agreed – but this is not a Buddhist temple, it’s a Shinto shrine, so the one here really isn’t a shishi but a koma-inu. I’ve also seen them in Confucian and Taoist temples in China.
The “OM”, “AUM” (whatever) sound apparently is Hindu. From Wikipedia:
Outside many Shinto shrines can be found the Koma-inu, (こま犬) which despite the “inu” (犬) (dog) in its name looks much like a Chinese lion.
Koma-inu are guardians against evil, showing many influences from both Chinese and Korean ancestry. Author Hiromi Iwai writes in the book “Nihon no Kamigami to Hotoke” (”The Gods and Buddha in Japan”) that Koma-inu’s lionlike design can be traced to China, while “Koma” may have been derived from “Korai,” an ancient Korean dynasty.
“Agreed – but this is not a Buddhist temple, it’s a Shinto shrine, so the one here really isn’t a shishi but a koma-inu.”
ALL Shinto shrines were influenced by Buddhist teachings – ryobu Shinto. The Torii at the front of every Shinto shrine is Buddhist in origin. The lions and elephants carved into the supports at the front of ALL Shinto shrines are Buddhist also. The Lion representing the Buddha, the elephant representing the spreading of the Buddha Dharma (elephants were a means of transportation in India). Shishi and koma inu are one and the same – the lion of the Buddha. The lion (shishi or koma inu) is found all over Asia from it’s origin as the symbol of Buddhism. As Buddhism was assimilated into native religions, it was retained – as in Shinto, Taoism, Confucianism, Bon etc.
“I’ve also seen them in Confucian and Taoist temples in China.”
Yes, Buddhist influence, see above.
Lions did not live in China. “Because lions have never been native to China, early depictions were somewhat unrealistic; after the introduction of Buddhist art to China in the Tang Dynasty (after the sixth century AD), lions were depicted somewhat dog-like, their bodies thicker and shorter, and their manes curly. This depiction has carried over into most other Asian countries.” – Li Ling, Journal of Asiatic Art (May 2002).
The common word for lion – shishi (獅子) is composed of the two characters originally meaning “child” or “follower” of a “Shi” (in reference to the Buddha as the Lion Roar of the Dharma). This carried over into China, Korea, and Japan.
The famous “Chinese” Lion Dance originated with the teachings of the Buddha and is Indian in origin. Once again, lions weren’t found in China. The Lion Dance was performed in honour of the teachings of the Buddha and was known as Simhasiksa – lion’s skill. It was traditionally performed by warriors of the Kshatriya caste; the caste to which the Buddha belonged.
Yes, “Aum” is found in all the Vedic religions.
The idea that torii are Buddhist in origin seems to be a debatable one and certainly not one that is generally accepted.
Actually, you seem to be ascribing an overall influence to Buddhism over other older religions that I (as a non-expert) haven’t heard before, and I find problematic at best.
Generally accepted views aren’t always correct.
Why would Taoism or confucianism or even Shinto use a lion – an animal not known to those religions? I have presented food for thought, based on over 20 years of study in the field of Asian art and architecture, you find it problematic because you choose to do so.