Guardian dog (koma'inu)

Object Details

• Description

  Seated guardian dog with a closed mouth.

• Label

  Guardian dogs carved of wood customarily are placed in the outer corrider of Shinto shrines to protect the sacred precincts. Like human guardians, one of the pair opens his mouth to cry out a warning. This (F1983.7a-c) dog’s mouth is closed and the other (F1983.6a-c) dog’s mouth is open. Together they form the syllables “a” and “un,” sounds with religious significance that are derived from Sanskrit. The sculptures retain traces of white pigment, which could have been the ground layer for other colors.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Way of the Kami (May 11 to November 3, 2019)

  The Historical Buddha and Friends (November 3, 2018 to May 5, 2019)

  Japanese Screens (February 11, 1983 to July 19, 1988)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by the James Smithson Society

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1300s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), Art, Animals, Wood, Dogs, Japanese Art, Shinto, Guardian lion

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Sculpture