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Komainu
Unknownabout 1450
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Indianapolis, United States
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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