狛 (bó) - A mythical dog-like creature in East Asian folklore & sometimes refers to a type of lion-dog guardian
狛 · bó
A mythical dog-like creature in East Asian folklore;
sometimes refers to a type of lion-dog guardian figure.
A mythical dog-like creature in East Asian folkloresometimes refers to a type of lion-dog guardian
Usage highlights
komainuguardian lionmythical beastshrine guardianstone liontemple dog
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The komainu is a lion-dog statue (狛犬) found at Shinto shrines.
- In Japanese mythology, the komainu (狛犬) serves as a guardian.
- Ancient texts mention the bai (狛) as a mythical beast.
Collocations
- komainu(狛犬)
- guardian lion-dog(狛犬)
- mythical beast(狛)
- shrine guardian(狛犬)
- stone lion(石狛)
- temple dog(寺狛)
Cultural background
FAQ- Primarily appears in Japanese context as 'koma' in komainu (狛犬), the lion-dog statues guarding Shinto shrines.
- The character itself is of Chinese origin but saw more prevalent use and development in Japan.
- Sometimes associated with the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo (高句麗), from which the 'koma' reading may derive.