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SHISA2
is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils. People place pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses, with the left shisa traditionally having a closed mouth, the right one an open mouth. The open mouth shisa traditionally wards off evil spirits, and the closed mouth shisa keeps good spirits in. History Like the ''komainu'' ("lion dogs"), the shisa are a variation of the guardian lions from China. From the Edo period, they started to be called "guardian dogs" in general in mainland Japan. Gender is variously assigned to the shisa. Some Okinawans believe the male has his mouth closed to keep bad out of the home, while the female has her mouth open to share goodness. Others believe the female has her mouth closed to "keep in the good", while the mal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
:Category:Japanese Words And Phrases ...
{{Commons Words and phrases by language Words Words Words A word is a basic element of language that carries meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. Despite the fact that language speakers often have an intuitive grasp of what a word is, there is no consensus among linguists on its ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nago
is a city located in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. As of December 2012, the city has an estimated population of 61,659 and a population density of 293 persons per km2. Its total area is 210.30 km2. Geography Nago City is located in the northern part of Okinawa Island and with an area of 210.33 km², it represents 9.2% of Okinawa Island’s surface, coming third behind Taketomi (334.02 km²) and Ishigaki (229.00 km²) in Okinawa Prefecture, but first on Okinawa Island. The city is bordered by the sea both on the west and the east. About 10% of the city area is occupied by U.S. military bases. Administrative divisions The city includes fifty-six wards. *Abu (安部) *Asahikawa (旭川) *Awa (安和) *Bīmata (為又) *Burikena (振慶名) *Futami (二見) *Gabu (我部) *Gabusoka (我部祖河) *Genka (源河) *Goga (呉我) *Henoko (辺野古) *Inamine (稲嶺) *Isagawa (伊差川) *Katsuyama (勝山) *Kawakami (川上) *Kayō (嘉� ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tutelary Deity
A tutelary (; also tutelar) is a deity or a Nature spirit, spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concept of safety and thus of guardianship. In Platonic idealism, late Greek and Roman religion, one type of tutelary deity, the ''Genius (mythology), genius'', functions as the personal deity or ''daimon'' of an individual from birth to death. Another form of personal tutelary spirit is the familiar spirit of European folklore. Ancient Greece Socrates spoke of hearing the voice of his personal spirit or ''daimonion'': The Greeks also thought deities guarded specific places: for instance, Athena was the patron goddess of the city of Athens. Ancient Rome Tutelary deities who guard and preserve a place or a person are fundamental to Religion in ancient Rome, ancient Roman religion. The tutelary deity of a man was his Genius (mythology), Geni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seasarmon
is a Japanese anime television series and the third television series in the ''Digimon'' franchise, produced by Toei Animation. The series takes place in a new setting separate from the preceding series, '' Digimon Adventure'' and ''Digimon Adventure 02'', where the characters utilize cards from the collectible card games. The series aired in Japan from April 2001 to March 2002. The series was originally licensed in North America by Saban Entertainment, aired in the US from September 2001 to June 2002 as the third season of ''Digimon: Digital Monsters''. A Hong Kong manhua adaptation of the series, by Yu Yuen-wong, was serialized from April to October 2004. Plot Takato Matsuki, a fan of the ''Digimon'' card game, finds a Blue Card, which transforms his card reader into a D-Power Digivice. His original Digimon creation, Guilmon, materializes into real life when his D-Power scans his drawings. Takato meets Henry Wong and Rika Nonaka, two other children who are partnered wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Komainu
, often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion-like creatures, which traditionally guard the entrance or gate of the shrine, or placed in front of or within the ''honden'' (inner sanctum) of Japanese Shinto shrines. Symbolic meaning A twin pair of ''komainu'' (construable as "Korean dog") or two ''shishi'' ("lion")/''karajishi'' ("Chinese lion") are the typical stone-made creatures associated with Gatekeeper, gatekeeping on Shinto shrine grounds. The dog and lion pairs are seen as interchangeable. Meant to ward off evil spirits, modern ''komainu'' statues usually are almost identical, but one has the mouth open, the other closed (however, exceptions exist, where both ''komainu'' have their mouth either open or closedShogakukan Encyclopedia, ''Komainu''), and together they symbolically represent the beginning and the end of all things. The two forms are called for the open mouthed statue symbolically representing the beginning of all things, and for the clos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Godzilla (franchise)
is a Japanese Monster movie, monster, or ''kaiju'', franchise centering on the Godzilla, titular character, a prehistoric reptilian monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. The films series are recognized by the ''Guinness World Records'' as the "longest continuously running film series", having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths. There are 38 ''Godzilla'' films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho, Toho Co., Ltd., and five American films; one by TriStar Pictures and four films (part of the Monsterverse franchise) by Legendary Entertainment, Legendary Pictures. The original film, ''Godzilla (1954 film), Godzilla'', was directed by and co-written by Ishirō Honda and released by Toho in 1954. It became an influential classic of the genre. It featured political and social undertones relevant to Japan at the time. The 1954 film and its special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya are largely credited for establishin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
King Caesar
is a 1974 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Distributed by Toho and produced under their effects subsidiary Toho–Eizo, it is the 14th film of the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and features the fictional monster characters Godzilla, Anguirus, and King Caesar, along with the mecha character Mechagodzilla. The film stars Masaaki Daimon, Kazuya Aoyama, Gorō Mutsumi, and Akihiko Hirata, with Isao Zushi as Godzilla, Satoru Kuzumi as both Anguirus and King Caesar, and Kazunari Mori as Mechagodzilla. The film marks the first appearances of King Caesar and Mechagodzilla in the franchise. ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla'' was released theatrically in Japan on March 21, 1974, to generally positive reviews. The film received a limited release in the United States in 1977 by Cinema Shares, under the title ''Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster''. It was then quickly re-released under the title ''Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster'' which was also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese Sculpture
Sculpture in Japan began with the clay figure. Towards the end of the long Neolithic Jōmon period, "flame-rimmed" pottery vessels had sculptural extensions to the rim, and very stylized pottery dogū figures were produced, many with the characteristic "snow-goggle" eyes. During the Kofun period of the 3rd to 6th century CE, haniwa terracotta figures of humans and animals in a simplistic style were erected outside important tombs. The arrival of Buddhism in the 6th century brought with it sophisticated traditions in sculpture, Chinese styles mediated via Korea. The 7th-century Hōryū-ji and its contents have survived more intact than any East Asian Buddhist temple of its date, with works including a ''Shaka Trinity'' of 623 in bronze, showing the historical Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas and also the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions. Jōchō is said not only to be one of the greatest Buddhist sculptors in the Heian period but also in the history of Buddhist statues in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Mythology In Popular Culture
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature throughout the area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology encompasses a diverse array of myths derived from regional and cultural traditions. Populated with engaging narratives featuring extraordinary individuals and beings endowed with magical powers, these stories often unfold in fantastical mythological realms or historical epochs. Similar to numerous other mythologies, Chinese mythology has historically been regarded, at least partially, as a factual record of the past. Along with Chinese folklore, Chinese mythology forms an important part of Chinese folk religion and Taoism, especially older popular forms of it. Many narratives recounting characters and events from ancient times exhibit a dual tradition: one that presents a more historicized or euhemerized interpretation, and another that offers a more mythological perspective. Numerous myths delve into the creation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Art
Chinese art is visual art that originated in or is practiced in China, Greater China or by Chinese artists. Art created by Chinese residing outside of China can also be considered a part of Chinese art when it is based on or draws on Chinese culture, heritage, and history. Early "Stone Age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. After that period, Chinese art, like Chinese history, was typically classified by the succession of ruling dynasties of Chinese emperors, most of which lasted several hundred years. The Palace Museum in Beijing and the National Palace Museum in Taipei contains extensive collections of Chinese art. Chinese art is marked by an unusual degree of continuity within, and consciousness of, tradition, lacking an equivalent to the Western collapse and gradual recovery of Western classical styles of art. Decorative arts are extremely important in Chinese art, and much of the finest work was produced in large wor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carranca
A carranca (Portuguese language, Portuguese, literally "scowl" with another definition as "figurehead"; ) is a type of Figurehead (object), figurehead attached to river craft which is attributed with power to protect the boatmen from the river's evil spirits. The culture in Brazil incorporated elements of the indigenous culture, so that the idea of river spirits and forest spirits can help or hinder a crossing is also natural of the Amerindian imaginary. They were once commonly found on the lower São Francisco River, Rio São Francisco in Brazil, Brazil's Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region (''Nordeste''). The carranca is most commonly a figure of a human or an animal. They were used to identify traders operating on the São Francisco and, as with ancient figureheads, serve the superstitious as guardians on the river. Today most authentic carrancas and early folk art revivals are only found in museums with some being subject of a Rio exhibition in 2002Four historic exampl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
