(2) Japanese Silver Toned Komainu Guardian Spirit Statues. Pair of silver-toned Japanese Komainu or Shi-shi guardian lion figures, each intricately detailed with gold-gilt accents and resting a front paw on an ornamental openwork ball.

Size: 13 x 6 x 9 3/4 in. 

Komainu are traditional Japanese guardian figures typically found in pairs at the entrances of Shinto shrines, where they serve to ward off evil spirits and protect sacred spaces. Resembling lion-dog hybrids, one statue usually has its mouth open (symbolizing the sound “a,” the beginning of all things) while the other has its mouth closed (representing “un,” the end), together embodying the cycle of existence. Originating from influences that traveled along the Silk Road from ancient China and India, komainu evolved into a distinctly Japanese form and are often carved from stone or cast in bronze. Beyond their protective role, they are valued for their expressive features and stylized forms, making them an important element of Japanese religious art and cultural symbolism.

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