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- Lion Dog (Koma-inu)
Wood with traces of pigment 16th/17th century ht. 33.8 cm
Fred and Isabel Pollard Collection
AGGV 67.141
A sakakitree (cleyera ochnacea or cleyera japonica), a type of evergreen, is usually found near the centre of the shrine complex. It also has sacred value because, according to legend, sacred objects were hung on it to lure the Sun Goddess from her cave and thus bring light back to the world. Now, branches of the sakaki tree are waved by Shinto priests in rituals evoking the kami.
Sacred areas were often designated by a rope called shimenawa, usually strung across the toriior across the entrance to the shrine. According to Shinto beliefs, it symbolizes purity and marksthe point beyond which evil orfilth could
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