Standing before the Ichi no Torii (First Torii / 一の鳥居), the entrance of the Hokushin-Jinja (Shrine of the North Star / 北辰神社), is a pair of stone shishi (lion-dogs / 獅子), traditional guardian figures found at both Shintō (Japan’s native nature religion / 神道) shrines and Bukkyō (Buddhist / 仏教) temples throughout Japan. Originating from ancient lion imagery transmitted from India through China and Korea, the shishi (lion-dogs / 獅子) — also commonly referred to as komainu (Korean dogs / 狛犬) — have long been revered within the Shinbutsu-Shūgō (syncretism of Shintōism and Buddhism / 神仏習合) as protectors against evil influences, misfortune, and spiritual impurity. Positioned at entrances and sacred boundaries, they serve to guard the realm of the kami (deities / 神), butsu (buddhas / 仏) and bosatsu (bodhisattvas / 菩薩) while safeguarding those who enter with sincere hearts.
The pair at the Hokushin-Jinja are hand-carved from volcanic rock in an ancient style that preserves strong Chinese influences. Unlike the more familiar Japanese Edo-period (1603–1868) convention in which one shishi displays an open mouth and the other a closed mouth, both of these guardians possess open mouths, a feature commonly found in earlier Chinese and continental East Asian examples, which were also common in Japan during several periods. Their powerful forms and expressive features reflect a tradition that predates many of the stylistic developments that later became standard in Japan. Examples of such Chinese-influenced shishi (lion-dogs / 獅子) can still be found at a number of important shrines and temples throughout Japan, including the famous Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple / 清水寺) in Kyōto.
The presence of these guardians at the entrance to Hokushin-Jinja therefore not only fulfills their traditional protective function but also serves as a reminder of the rich cultural and artistic exchange through which many aspects of Japanese religious culture originally developed.