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21/01/2015

Soho-in

Menagerie of carved mythical creatures in Machida

Por Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Wonderful wood carving on the gate

Carving of a shishi - a mythological creature with powers of protection

A carved baku, a mythological creature said to eat bad dreams

Looking through the gate toward the main hall

An ornate metal plate protects a corner of one of the doors on the big gate

Wood carving of a dragon

I really love the wood carvings on Japanese temples and shrines!

Strangely trimmed trees

Temple building in the winter afternoon sun

The doors of the temple were slightly open

Unusual winged and bearded statue

Japanese bells are rung by being struck with a swinging wooden pole

Praying statue in the garden

O-Jizo statues in red hats and aprons

This temple in Machida City has a large, impressive gate with beautifully carved mythical creatures. There are shishi, which are the same creature as koma-inu (the 'lion-dogs' that guard the approach to Shinto shrines) and are believed to have protective powers. There are also baku, strange animals with elephant trunks and tiger's paws, that are believed to eat nightmares, and to complete this mythical menagerie there are also dragons.

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Cathy Cawood

Por Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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