Komainu

Unknownabout 1450

Details

Title: Komainu
Creator: Unknown
Date Created: about 1450
Type: sculpture
Rights: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Van Vorhees Art Fund
External Link: http://www.imamuseum.org/mercury/load-artwork/63525
Medium: cyrpress wood, gold lacquer (Urushi), and crystal
wall label: Komainu (lit. Koma=Korean; inu=dog) in Japan were placed at shrine or temple entrances to ward off evil. The use of the term Koma, referring to the ancient Korean kingdom of Koguryo, indicates that the motif probably arrived via Korea. Technically, only the animal with closed mouth and a horn on its head is a komainu, while the other is a shishi (lion).
period: Muromachi
measurements: 17 1/4 x 9 x 18 in. (overall)
culture: Japanese

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