Manga Heroes?
Deep in the verdant forest-dark countryside of the Noto Peninsular is the secluded district of Mii. Here can be found the hamlet of Honko where paddy fields occupy any level ground, while the hill- and mountain-sides are covered with trees.
On the edge of this community among tall cedars is the Ohata Kamusugi Isumu Hime Shrine.
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| Conventional Komainu |
The walkway up to this elderly well kept shrine is straddled by a typical torii gateway beside the road. After passing through it the path is flanked on either side by lion-dog statues, steadfast guardians of the shrine. They follow a convention in character and form that dates back centuries.
These lion-dogs or komainu in Japanese, are a development of lion guardians found in China but, over the years, they have morphed into a hybrid creature. The one on the left of the paved approach is male, the one opposite female. How do we know? Usually from a very simplified representation of genitalia.
In Okinawa a similar beast called a shisa may be found on the roof of a house above the entrance. The mouth of the one to the left is closed and is said to be a sign that it is keeping good spirits in. The mouth of the one opposite, however, is open and traditionally thought to be a sign that it is warding off evil spirits.
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| Mouth closed to the left and.... |
For Buddhists the open mouth represents the pronunciation of “a”, the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. Similarly the closed mouth is how the last letter of the alphabet, “um”, is pronounced. Hence the beginning and ending of everything is represented.
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| .....to the right with open mouth. |
There is, however, no mistaking the hereditary of the two lion-dogs at this shrine just a few steps beyond the torii—a fierce countenance, teeth which would certainly bite if they could, and a stern presence. If they jumped jumped down and began snapping at your ankles it would not be a surprise.
Unusually in this case, a little further along the path to the shrine there are two more lion-dogs that are certainly different.
Gruff looking, for sure, but if they were to jump down off their plinths it would not be a surprise if they assumed parts in a manga, ready to fight off the baddies and to make the world a better place to live in.
There is no provenience as to when they were sculpted or by whom. In fact, they are so curious and as far as anyone knows unique, that it has been suggested they were created by a visitor from another planet.
A more likely explanation is that they were created by someone from another region of Japan or even another region of Asia in exchange for the kindness they were shown by the local community.
Manga characters or not, they are heroes of Honko.
Bill Tingey Photo © Copyright
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