hizakui 膝喰
KEY WORD : art history / sculptures
 
A decoration in the shape of a lion's head *shigami 獅噛, found on the knees of an armored sculpted figure. The hizakui is attached to the top of the shin-armor *suneate 脛当. In Buddhist statuary, many guardian figures, tenbu 天部 (*ten 天), are portrayed in armor, and the lion's head represents strength and courage. It is thought to have originated in ancient Greek and Roman imagery.
 
 

 
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