Triangular altar cloth representing two shishi, or mythical lions. Gold raised couch work on a red background. Cream on reverse. Has also been used as a hanging for a festival chariot for the Obon festival, when Buddhists pray for rest for their ancestors. Shishi have long been associated with religious festivals, absorbing or driving out evil spirits and ensuring safety and good fortune.
These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.
The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.
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