Shisa

Also written: シーサー · 石狮（Shiisaa）

Shisa are statues of a legendary lion-dog placed on roofs and at gates as talismans to ward off evil; they are beloved icons that symbolize Okinawan culture.

Okinawa Kyushu-Okinawa Culture & Tradition

About this place

Shisa is Okinawa's ubiquitous guardian lion-dog, placed on red tile roofs, gate pillars, and village entrances to ward off evil and fire, with open-mouthed males voicing A and closed mouthed females voicing Un, together channeling good fortune. The motif traces to Egyptian and Chinese lion worship transmitted via Silk Road to Ryukyu in the 13th to 15th century. The oldest village shisa is Tomori no Seki Daishishi in Tomishiro, made in 1689 in the 21st year of King Sho Tei, about 1.4 meters tall, carved from Ryukyu limestone, facing west to block fire coming from the west based on feng shui. Rooftop shisa spread after Meiji when plasterers began modeling them on tile roofs to weigh down tiles against typhoons, tails looped around tiles. In Tsuboya pottery district near Makishi, more than ten workshops offer one hour shisa hand-building for 1800 to 2500 yen, shaping clay lumps into personalized guardians. Expressions range from fierce to comically cute, including stalactite-shaped discoveries from caves. On Miyako, Ishigaki, and Kume islands, placement shifts from roof center to stone walls. At night moonlit silhouettes of countless roof shisa create an eerie beautiful skyline. Souvenir shops sell pairs from 500 yen mini to 20,000 yen Ryukyu glass shisa collaborations. Placed at home entrances in Tokyo apartments, they remind owners of breezes felt in Okinawa. Stone shisa in villages are still anointed with water and incense during community hari prayers. Do not touch sacred village shisa without permission as some are community prayer objects. Local legend says shisa roared to break drought, leading village to place him facing Mt. Yaese, and fire stopped. Pair variants include tail curly for wind protection, snarling teeth for plague, pottery glaze mixing manganese. Cave explorations sometimes find bone shisa offerings. Modern architects embed shisa into railings and hotel facades. Seasonal festivals include Shisa Festival in Tsuboya November. Car dashboards often mini shisa for traffic safety. Clay shrinkage 15 percent considered in carving. Kiln firing patterns spiral flame thus each shisa cheek shading differs. Local legend says shisa roared to break drought, leading village to place him facing Mt. Yaese, and fire stopped. Pair variants include tail curly for wind protection, snarling teeth for plague, pottery glaze mixing manganese. Cave explorations sometimes find bone shisa offerings. Modern architects embed shisa into railings and hotel facades. Seasonal festivals include Shisa Festival in Tsuboya November. Car dashboards often mini shisa for traffic safety. Clay shrinkage 15 percent considered in carving. Kiln firing patterns spiral flame thus each shisa cheek shading differs.