Koma-inu

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Koma-inu (Jap., ‘dog of Koguryô’). A legendary beast resembling a lion, said to have entered Japan from the ancient Korean kingdom of Koguryô (Koma). Statues of the animal, popularly conceived as a guardian figure, are commonly found in pairs at entrances to shrine and temple precincts and in front of or attached to buildings themselves to ward off evil.

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