Research Article
Types of Architectural Compositions of komainu Guardian Lions of Sengen (Asama) Shrines
Vladimir Gorshkov Cantacuzene*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
109-116
Received:
10 September 2026
Accepted:
20 September 2026
Published:
29 September 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijaaa.20261203.11
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Abstract: One of the attributes of Shinto shrines are the komainu guardian lions, which are paired sculptures, sometimes supplemented with additional attributes such as lion cubs and an orb (jewelled). The current diversity of komainu makes it difficult to systematise them. This article examines the komainu of the shrines of Sengen (Asama). It is shown that more than half of them simultaneously belong to the “edo”-kotori and “edo”-tamatori styles, and some of them include elements of the “izumo” and “okazaki” styles, which leads to the conclusion that the existing division into styles is not suitable for the komainu of these shrines. This may be due to the influence of the Fuji (Fujiko) faith, which is indirectly confirmed by the unique komainu located in the territory of Fujizukas. All the komainu studied were divided into three types of compositions, the benchmark being the komainu of shrines important to the Fuji faith. The first type of komainu is present in the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha. The right sculpture is a seated lion with its mouth grinning. Its paw is placed on a lion cub that is biting it. The left sculpture is a sitting lion, without a grin, with its paw resting on a ball. Variations of this type include the position of the lion cub under the paw. In Yamanaka Sengen Jinja the paw is on the back, in Kawaguchi Asama jinja it is on the head, and in Tamagawa Sengen Jinja the lion cub additionally holds a ball. Inversion, where the lion cub is part of the left sculpture of the composition, is quite popular, and is found in shrines in Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Kanagawa prefectures and in Tokyo. The second type of komainu is present in Higashiguchi Sengen Jinja. These are essentially komainu mounted on mounds shaped like fujizuka, illustrating the proverb Shishi-no-ko-otoshi. Variants of this type, including two lion cubs, are found at Sezaki sengen Jinja and at Tagoyama Fujizuka. The third type of komainu is present in Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Jinja and is two komainu, one of which growls. This type is the simplest and most common. The article is supplemented with illustrations of komainu for all types and their variants.
Abstract: One of the attributes of Shinto shrines are the komainu guardian lions, which are paired sculptures, sometimes supplemented with additional attributes such as lion cubs and an orb (jewelled). The current diversity of komainu makes it difficult to systematise them. This article examines the komainu of the shrines of Sengen (Asama). It is shown that ...
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