Carved And Lacquered Wooden Maetate Depicting A Shishi - Edo Period (1603 - 1868).

JAPAN - Edo Period (1603-1868). Carved and lacquered wooden maetate depicting a leaping shishi. Restorations and minor losses to the mouth and paws. Dimensions: 28.5 x 6.5 x 12 cm. Sold with its base. Dimensions with base: 25.5 x 25.5 x 9 cm. The kabuto is not included. Notes: Among the samurai, the shishi (獅子), a mythical lion originating from Chinese tradition and transmitted to Japan through Buddhism, occupies an important place in martial iconography. More of a spiritual symbol than a real one, it embodies protective strength, bravery, and the ability to repel harmful influences. It is found, for example, on armor, kabuto, tsuba, and banners, where it acts as a guardian, tasked with terrifying the enemy as much as protecting the bearer. Associated with Buddhist temples and deities, the shishi also expresses the idea of an ideal warrior, both fierce in combat and disciplined internally.