Okazaki Komainu, Sanja Jinja, Osaka

3D Model

Okazaki-contemporary komainu based in the Shinto complex: Sanja Jinja, located in Osaka-shi. Guardians of the Kakinomoto Jinja dedicated to Kakinomoto no Hitomaro 柿本 人麻呂, one of the Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry 三十六歌仙 (he lived around 650) his art can be found on the Man’yōshū 万葉集 oldest collection of Waka 和歌 (japanese poem)

This specific style-pair is called shishi-yama 獅子山, according of the tale about mountain lions form:

Left side komainu taking care of the cub is called: Kotori 子取り

Right side komainu taking care of the jewel is called: Tamatori 玉取り

The style Okazaki, common style of komainu in all japan right now and considered as a modern style by the japanese ministry and as the unique reference for the imperial japan (beginning of Meiji period: 1868), for the a nationwide supremacy. As they are present in all japan, they are considered as destroying all the richest difference concerning the old komainu style linked to each japanese areas, perpetring uniformity all over Japan.