This is the last volume of the series 'KOMAINU - The Unique Art of Japan'.
The custom of ancient Mesopotamia of making lion statues was introduced into China along the Silk Road and then into Japan as Indoor Komainu. Later, Hajime Komainu were created from the simple belief of the people and out of the imagination of village stonecutters, and joined the ranks.
They then flowered in the Edo period as the distinctly Japanese komainu culture.
The stonecutter Komatsu Rihei hid his identity in an abscure village in northern Japan and pursued the art of komainu. His aspiration bore fruit in his apprentices and successors Torakichi and Wahei who created incredible komainu statues.
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Contents of the series
■Vol.1
1 In Variety, Komainu Are Tops
1-1 Just Look at These Faces!
1-2 A Varied Lot
2 Origin of Komainu and Primitive “Hajime” Komainu
2-1 Origin of Komainu
2-2 “Hajime” Komainu
■Vol.2
3 The History and Various Styles of Komainu
3-1 Echizen Kamuro (Shakudani Stone Komainu)
3-2 Izumo (Tango)
3-3 Edo Lions and Naniwa Komainu
3-4 “Mani-Ball” (Tenjin)
3-5 Gokoku
3-6 Bizen (Inbe Miyajishi)
3-7 Chinese Lions
3-8 Modern Okazaki Komainu (Sanshu)
3-9 Others
■Vol.3
4 The Wolf: Another Kind of Komainu
4-1 Komainu and Wolves
4-2 Japanese dogs and Others
5 War and Komainu
6 Komainu as Works of Art
6-1 Stonecutters Struggle Against Copies
6-2 TheDecline of Komainu Culture
■Vol.4 (this book)
7 Divine Komainu: The Incredible Story of Rihei, Torakichi and Wahei
7-1 The Story Begins with a Takato Stonecutter
7-2 Komatsu Torakichi Nobutaka: Indomitable and Rebellious
7-3 The Flying Lion
7-4 Kobayashi Wahei, the Late Bloomer
7-5 Divine Komainu
The custom of ancient Mesopotamia of making lion statues was introduced into China along the Silk Road and then into Japan as Indoor Komainu. Later, Hajime Komainu were created from the simple belief of the people and out of the imagination of village stonecutters, and joined the ranks.
They then flowered in the Edo period as the distinctly Japanese komainu culture.
The stonecutter Komatsu Rihei hid his identity in an abscure village in northern Japan and pursued the art of komainu. His aspiration bore fruit in his apprentices and successors Torakichi and Wahei who created incredible komainu statues.
━━━━━━━━━
Contents of the series
■Vol.1
1 In Variety, Komainu Are Tops
1-1 Just Look at These Faces!
1-2 A Varied Lot
2 Origin of Komainu and Primitive “Hajime” Komainu
2-1 Origin of Komainu
2-2 “Hajime” Komainu
■Vol.2
3 The History and Various Styles of Komainu
3-1 Echizen Kamuro (Shakudani Stone Komainu)
3-2 Izumo (Tango)
3-3 Edo Lions and Naniwa Komainu
3-4 “Mani-Ball” (Tenjin)
3-5 Gokoku
3-6 Bizen (Inbe Miyajishi)
3-7 Chinese Lions
3-8 Modern Okazaki Komainu (Sanshu)
3-9 Others
■Vol.3
4 The Wolf: Another Kind of Komainu
4-1 Komainu and Wolves
4-2 Japanese dogs and Others
5 War and Komainu
6 Komainu as Works of Art
6-1 Stonecutters Struggle Against Copies
6-2 TheDecline of Komainu Culture
■Vol.4 (this book)
7 Divine Komainu: The Incredible Story of Rihei, Torakichi and Wahei
7-1 The Story Begins with a Takato Stonecutter
7-2 Komatsu Torakichi Nobutaka: Indomitable and Rebellious
7-3 The Flying Lion
7-4 Kobayashi Wahei, the Late Bloomer
7-5 Divine Komainu
