komainu lion dogs

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- KAPPA - 河童 / かっぱ /　カッパ - Shinto shrines -
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- komainu, koma-inu 狛犬 lion dog -

They stand in front of a Shinto shrine to protect the precincts -
and scare away impure creatures.

The most common guardian animal at the entrance of a shrine is the
. komainu, koma inu　狛犬 lit. "Korean Dog" .

They come in a pair, one with its mouth open agyoo 阿形;
and one with its mouth closed, ungyoo 吽形, thus representing the beginning (alpha) and end (omega) of all things.

. koma...　 狛　 shrine guardian animals .
- Introduction -


Kappa komainu カッパ狛犬 / 河童狛犬 Kappa as Komainu

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source :　mie university

This is a painting of the Kappa at the temple Joken-Ji in Tono

When a malicious Kappa tried to pull a horse into the water, he got caught by the farmers and had to promise to be good from now on. Then there was a fire at the temple and the Kappa rushed by, poured endless water from his plate on the head and extinguished the fire.

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. - Kappabuchi, Kappa-buchi 河童淵 / カッパ淵 / 河童が渕
"Kappa pool", Kappa riverside - Introduction .
at Tono, Iwate 遠野 岩手.



- - - - - Look at more photos here :
source :　anzubiyori.blog.so-net.ne.jp


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- shared by John Dougill


At shrine Hiruko Sha 蛭子社, on the way to Inari Jinja 稲荷神社 in the compound of the famous Suwa Jinja 諏訪神社 in Nagasaki.
If you pour water in the plate on its head, your wish will be granted.

- quote
Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社 Suwa jinja)
the major Shinto shrine of Nagasaki, Japan, and home to the Nagasaki Kunchi (kunchi (くんち) means "september nine festival" kunichi　九日).
. . . komainu
Another unique feature of Suwa shrine are the "stop lions".
They are two stone-carved guardian lions (koma-inu), and tradition holds that if one wishes to stop a behavior, such as smoking, one should tie a piece of paper or string around their front legs and pray for their assistance.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Hiruko no mikoto 蛭子命 Hiruko is identified with Ebisu.
. Ebisu えびす　恵比寿　 .

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. Wakamiya Jinja 若宮神社 - Ehime .
Two Kappa as koma-inu

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. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- reference -


. koma...　 狛　 shrine guardian animals .
- Introduction -

. koma-inu 狛犬 / 高麗犬 / 胡麻犬 "Korean Dog" .
karajishi 唐獅子 "Chinese Lion" / foo dogs, fóshī 佛獅 Foshi
Legends and Tales

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. - - - Join my Kappa friends on facebook ! - - - .


. - - - Join the Koma-Inu friends of facebook ! - - - .

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. Kappa densetsu　河童伝説, Kappa minwa 河童民話 - Legends - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .


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- #komainu #kappakomainu
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