Have you ever seen or been to a shrine or temple and wondered what are the two animal stone statues outside supposed to be?
They're komainu, or "lion dogs"! 🦁🐕 Komainu are legendary creatures that are said to be guardians of holy places.
Their statues are often placed near the gates of a shrine, often as a couple: one male and one female.
The male komainu is said to guard the place itself, while the female komainu protects the people inside the place. #JLMyōkaioftheday#japanloverme Art by @littlemisspaintbrush 🎨