Komainu literally translated from Japanese means Korean dogs, often called by the Europeans a lion-dogs, are a statues of lion-like creatures. They protect most shrine and many temple entrances from the
entrance of evil. One male and one female sit on either side of the entrance. Komainu can be found also in many private homes and nobility residences.
The pair, representing a male (his mouth is open, and he emits the primal first sound, yo and a female (her mouth is closed, and she emits the final sound, in also represent Chinese ideas of the beginning and end of all things also the opposition between yang (male) and yin (female) universal principles. The female is often accompanied by her cubs. The lion-dogs are reputed to be fierce in protecting their young with absolute devotion and because of that they are appropriate guardians.
The Komainu originated from the chinese lions protectors called shishi, but probably the whole lion idea came from India. The Chinese guardian lions are believed to have been influenced by lion pelts and lion depictions introduced through trade from either the Middle East or India, countries where the lion existed and was a symbol of strength. The Japanese copies of these, with even less familiarity with the zoological original, were even more fanciful and subsequently labeled “dogs.” Because the idea was transmitted from China via Korea, they became Korean dogs.
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