Images

https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=26774E4C75A7E58F7CC4548112B91B8DE07E219FA7861B50285C571CBB6C088E&s=21&se=1764473359&v=2&f=1924.351.1_o2.jpg

https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=46C6530C7646A48C039AA23FF74B943BE810B8E0D963C8C37363B403D8C047B6&s=21&se=1764473359&v=1&f=%5C1924.351.1det01_o2.jpg

https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=46C6530C7646A48C28E58F40987550CE2BAFBFFCA43590CDACA4AEDFC88EF975&s=21&se=1764473359&v=1&f=%5C1924.351.1det02_o2.jpg

https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=46C6530C7646A48C0FA51D5C7CA687D16575E4C1B4E47B18EF52E27C173FA0C6&s=21&se=1764473359&v=1&f=%5C1924.351.1det03_o2.jpg

Alternate Views

Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog

1185-1333

Part of a set. See all set records

Japan, Kamakura period

(1185-1333)

Wood with traces of polychromy

Overall: 49.6 cm (19 1/2 in.)

Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.351.1

Location

not on view

Description

Placed at the entrance to shrines and temples in Japan, lion-like guardian figures warded off evil spirits. These lion-dogs are distinguishable by their faces: one looks fierce, mouth closed, while the other seems mid-roar, mouth agape. The idea of guardian-lions likely came to Japan from China via Korea, giving rise to the name koma-inu meaning "Korean dog."

Provenance

?-1924

(T. Kuroda, Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)

1924-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1924-present

Citations

Sizer, Theodore. “A Note on the Japanese Collection.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 11, no. 9, 1924, pp. 174–187. Mentioned: pp. 174-175; Reproduced: p. 187 www.jstor.org

The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 275 archive.org

Mayuyama, Junkichi. Japanese Art in the West. [Tokyo]: Mayuyama & Co, 1966. Mentioned: p. 344; Reproduced: p. 49, pl. 61

Zenzo Shimizu 清水善三. "Japanese Sculptures in America and Canada," Ars Buddhica 佛教藝術, no. 126 (September 1979), part I, pp. 67-88. Reproduced: fig. 26

Exhibition history

Inaugural Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (co-organizer) (June 6-September 20, 1916).

Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 24-November 16, 1975).

Shinto: Discovering the Divine in Japanese Art 神道－日本美術における神性の発見. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 9-June 30, 2019).

Cite this page

{{cite web|title=Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog|url=https://clevelandart.org/art/1924.351.1|year=1185-1333|access-date=30 October 2020|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance information, is based on historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on objects is an ongoing process, but the information about this object may not reflect the most current information available to CMA. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

Is something not working on this page? Please email help.website@clevelandart.org.

Request a digital file from Image Services that is not available through CC0, a detail image, or any image with a color bar. If you have questions about requesting an image, please email imageservices@clevelandart.org.

You are here:

Images

Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog

Koma-inu: Guardian Lion-Dog

Japan, Kamakura period

Location

Download and Share

Description

Contact us