Komainu



The Komainu are titanic stone dogs that live deep within the Aokigahara Forest. They are said to be quiet and peaceful, unless provoked. They protect the demons of Aokigahara Forest and kill those who trespass in their sanctuary. Kitsa Madara was able to tame two Komainu and gave it to the current Nagasaku Emperor as a gift for his eighth birthday. Komainu are naturally observed in pairs and never leave each other's side for any reason.

Japanese mythology
Komainu are noble holy animals which are usually employed as guardians of holy areas. They can range in size from a small dog to the size of a lion, and due to their resemblance to both creatures, are often called lion dogs in English. They have thick, curly manes and tails, powerful, muscular bodies, and sharp teeth and claws. Some komainu have large horns like a unicorn on their heads, however many are hornless. Komainu are a ubiquitous symbol at holy places in Japan. Stone komainu statues are almost always found at the entrance to Shinto shrines, often with more inside the shrine guarding the important buildings. The pairs are usually carved in two poses: with mouth open, in a roaring position, and with mouth closed. Symbolically, these creatures represent yin and yang, or death and life. The open-mouthed komainu represents “a,” while the closed-mouthed komainu represents “un.” These sounds are the Japanese transliteration of the Sanskrit “Om,” a mystical syllable which symbolizes the beginning, middle, and end of all things. A western analogy would be alpha and omega.