Shisa
シーサー
しーさー
A statue of an imaginary creature--a cross between a lion and a
dog--often seen on rooftops and gateposts in Okinawa. It is believed
to ward off evil, protect the household from disaster, and invite
good fortune. Shisa are usually placed in pairs: the open-mouthed
shisa (-a gyo) brings good luck while the closed-mouth
shisa (-un gyo) keeps misfortune at bay. (It is also
said that the syllables a-un, represent the beginning and
end of life, everything in this world.) Originally, shisa
were crafted from leftover materials after workmen finished tiling
a roof. Every workman had his own style, and one look at the shisa
was enough to tell who had tiled the roof. The traditional tiled
roof is becoming a rarity these days, however, as are the rooftop
shisa.
The first shisa are believed to have been introduced into
Okinawa sometime in the 14th or 15th centuries during the Ryukyu
kingdom. Their origins trace back thorough China across the Silk
Road, Egypt the ancient Orient, and India. The koma-inu and
shishi figures seen at Shinto shrines are thought to share
the same origins. Similar lion-dog figures believed to have the
power to ward off evil can be seen in other countries as well. |
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