Description
One of the most interesting and dramatic of traditional Japanese customs is
the performance of the shishi-mai dance (mai means "dance").
This very old ritual is often performed before festivals and other auspicious
community events as a charm to ensure luck and ward away evil forces. To
perform the dance, one or more dancers will work together within a large costume
to enliven a mock figure of a mythical Chinese shishi, which in an
enchanted creature resembling a lion. The shishi tradition is
thought to have made its way to Japan sometime during the 8th century where it
quickly spread and developed into many regional variations. Shishi-mai
dances are especially popular during the first few days in January, and
shishi dolls are often displayed in the home during this time as a means of
further welcoming in the new year.
About the Listed Item
Brand new Chinese-made shishi doll with hand-painted face and fabric
bean-bag body decorated with a traditional Japanese design pattern. A wonderful display piece at new
year or eye-catching decorative accent within the home of any collector or fan
of Japanese culture. Please click
here to see a standing version of
this same doll!
Size:
Height: 5.1 inches (13.0 centimeters)
Weight: 1.8 ounces (51 grams)
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to see more Shishi items!
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More about Japanese shishi
One of the most frequently encountered forms of shishi in Japan are
the
komainu guardian statues frequently seen standing watch before
Shinto religious shrines. Shinto
is the native religion of Japan and many Shinto
shrines will include two fierce-looking statues guarding their entrance.
The figures are a form of shishi lion (well, actually one is a dog), and
are normally seen as a pair just inside the
distinctive torii shrine gate. When entering the shrine the figure
on the right (that's the lion) with the open mouth is thought to be uttering the
sound "ah"
(meaning birth) while the figure on the left (dog) makes the sound "un"
(meaning death). In combination the two figures are tasked with protecting
the sacred ground of the shrine while the sounds they symbolically utter
represent the cycle of birth and death. If my description is a
bit confusing regarding dog vs. lion then this is because while the figures are
historically different animals, contemporary Japanese usually describe both as
simply "shrine dogs" or komainu. It is interesting to
note that temples for Japan's other major religion Buddhism, often have their
own protectors guarding the gates. Buddhist temples are guarded not by
komainu-style
shishi, but instead by carved images of deities who are thought to be brothers and who are called
the Nio Guardians. The Nio are commonly seen standing with
fierce postures on either side of many temple gates. Like the komainu,
one brother has his mouth open while the other brother's mouth is closed.
Interestingly, the Nio are thought to be uttering the same sounds as the
komainu with the same symbolic meaning of birth and death. This
fact is yet another example of the interesting and harmonious coexistence in
Japan of Buddhism and Shinto, which together form the spiritual
foundation of contemporary Japanese life.
More photos below!
item code: INV-0000087_01 DOL-0000232
ship code: L2160
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