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Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog
1185-1333
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Placed at the entrance to shrines and temples in Japan, lion-like guardian figures warded off evil spirits. These lion-dogs are distinguishable by their faces: one looks fierce, mouth closed, while the other seems mid-roar, mouth agape. The idea of guardian-lions likely came to Japan from China via Korea, giving rise to the name <em>koma-inu</em> meaning "Korean dog."
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Details
- Title: Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog
- Date Created: 1185-1333
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 49.6 cm (19 1/2 in.)
- Provenance: Kuroda Takuma 黒田太久馬 [1867-?], Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1924-present
- Type: Sculpture
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1924.351.1
- Medium: wood with traces of polychromy
- Department: Japanese Art
- Culture: Japan, Kamakura period (1185-1333)
- Credit Line: Dudley P. Allen Fund
- Collection: Japanese Art
- Accession Number: 1924.351.1
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