Hello everyone!
It is the blog How Unique Japan, spreading the features of the country!
Today, we would like to discuss objects from Shintoism.
(If you have not read the article about the shrines and Shintoism, click here!)
Have you seen two guardian dogs at the entrance of shrines staring at every visitor from both sides?
They are mythical creatures named Komainu (inu means dogs in Japan).
The history (Who are they?)
The source of the design is complicated because Komainu’s appearance is close to Shi Shi.
It is also a mythical creature. Therefore, we need to trace back the origin of the Shishi.
(One more article about Shishi is here.)
Some historians in Japan suggest that they were from the ancient Orient (3500 BC to 500 AD).
They symbolized a Lion as the power, and that animal should be the origin, they say.
The idea (the lion is a symbol of power) influenced Egypt, India, China, and Korea.
Then, they finally arrived in Japan between 592 and 710. It was the Asuka era. However, the appearance changed because many people in China and Korea did not see the lion physically. Thus, they imagined the lion from rumors and information.
The altered form of the lion could be the origin of Shishi (and Komainu).
One more complication, but Unique
Now, the origin of history has become a bit clearer. However, the perplexing situation is not over yet.
In the article “The Religions in Japan”, we have already written about the two familiar types of religion.
They are Shintoism and Buddhism. Buddhists can worship with any Buddha or his apprentice statues. Thus, the first occasion that they (Shishi/Komainu) became guardians for the entrance was in temples of ancient India.
Firstly, they belonged to the Buddhists.
On the other hand, Shintoism does not have materialized idols for worship (except mirrors).
By that, it should be contradictory that the Komainu statues sit around the entrance of each shrine.
But, please come to think. What do you feel when you visit shrines without any symbols? It would be boring.
It is why the architecture workers of shrines put Komainu statues as the guardians.
Such a change occurred around the Edo era from 1603 to 1868.
Indeed. The Komainus are much younger than Shintoism was born.
Opening & shutting the mouth
So, Komainu is a pear sitting on both sides. But take a close look. As you can see, the left side shuts the mouth. On the other hand, he widely opens his mouth.
Why is there a difference in their faces?
It is also concerned with Buddhism again. The lesson says.
Everything (Fate/incidents/karma) has a cause and result. Thus, accept anything to release any suffering and free our souls.
(If you want to know about it, please check this article.)
Therefore, some statues in temples express the lesson with their mouth.
Opening it means Cause (Start/Say something). Then, Shutting means Result (End/listening to something from the cause). That is why the emotion on the face is different.
There is one more.
Such a pair of statues with the mouse is called A Un (it sounds similar to A and N).
What does that mean?
So, try to imitate them with your mouth.
Indeed, saying something with the mouth open sounds like A. On the other hand, Un means shutting it. It seems he says Umm.
Unique Koma Inu
If you could visit Ishikawa prefecture (Japan has 48th prefectures), you might discover the Komainu standing upside down at any shrine there. It seems a dog playing with high emotion.
Strangely, such Koma Inu are only (almost) in the prefecture, and nobody knows why they are and when they were born.
Some historians say that the Komainu welcomes visitors.
There is one more strange type. Look at the picture.
You can see him. It is like he hits himself and gets a bump, but it is a HORN.
Although we showed many pictures of Komainus, the original was them. So, they first had a horn on the top of the head.
Why does the horn disappear?
It happened due to a misunderstanding of a rumor. It was like a message game.
Around the Edo era (1603 – 1868), the architectural workers made an effort for houses and shrines (they have the Komainu statues) because the era was after the civil wars.
However, some architects did not see Komainu physically. They heard that it is similar to Shishi, the previous form/design of the Komainu.
So, they constructed many shrines with the information that they do not have horns on top.
It is the reason why Komainu without horns is popular in Japan.
To close
It is all for this article. Thank you so much for reading!
It is not yet! We have another article about Japanese uniqueness. We have the other categories about the Edo era, Japanese food, and Japanese lifestyle.
If you are still interested in them, please visit those pages!
OK now! See you soon for the next uniqueness!