POST YOUR LION/SHISHI!

[Jake6500]

Hey Tosogu collectors,

 

I recently obtained my second Yanagawa Naomitsu piece, a beautiful lion and peony themed fuchigashira (possible tokubetsu hozon candidate?) 

In celebration of this new acquisition I felt a mega lion thread would be fitting, hoping to get the rest of the forum involved!

 

Post your best lions, all types of Tosogu welcome! I'll start:

 

 

[Brian]

I edited the title to include shishi as many will know them more this way than as actual lions

[Spartancrest]

10 minutes ago, Jake6500 said:

I'll start:

You win! 

[Bugyotsuji]

Yup.

(Dang, that’s going to be hard to beat!)

[Jake6500]

Thanks Brian for the title edit, I'd like to make this thread an extensive one! The more contributions the better!

[Geraint]

Here is one, poor photograph but nice tsuba.

 

All the best.

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Rummaging through a drawer and found this themed koshiraé for a Yosozaemon.

 

Shishi menuki 

Botan peony tsuba

Shishi kozuka 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Closer views!

and

[Dan tsuba]

Here is one of mine.

[Hokke]

[Gunome]

[Gunome]

Here is a Yanagawa Naomasa Fuchi Kashira 

[Kurikata]

Mine....

 

Edited Wednesday at 04:31 PM by Kurikata

[BrentC]

Recently acquired this Kikuoka Mitsumasa.

[BrentC]

[Exclus1ve]

Very well!
Since many have already seen my avatar anyway…

 

I'll add a good work on the theme of "shishi dance")

 

The lion dance is usually performed as part of the New Year's celebrations. The dancer in front is dressed as a lion. The man behind him plays music for the dance on a flute. In addition to the man dancing as the lion's head, there are others who form the body. The second dancer in the lion costume is shown on the reverse of the kozuka. The lion dance tradition developed in China from a belief that the dance would protect villages from evil spirits. Stylized lions such as this are known as Chinese lions ("shishi") in Japan.
 

https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.691/

 

Best regards!

[cluckdaddy76]

Here is an iron set of fuchi/kashira with what I was told is a pair of lion hunters/lions. I have not researched the mei.

[EdWolf]

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Similar ones to this piece in Japanese publications are labelled Satsuma or Oda school

[Julien]

My small contribution, old nanban tsuba in ok state. Yet I love the two shishi and the little gold dot for the eyes.

[Brian]

Some lovely items being posted, with some unusual depictions of shishi. Keep them coming, enjoying seeing them.

[Yumso]

[thutson]

I would like to share a lovelyset of tosogu by Yokoya Tomotake featuring Shishi play fighting. It’s a great example of katakiribori workmanship, which is done to a high level.

One intriguing thing I have noticed while studying the set is that the carvings of the Chinese Lions resemble the paintings from a pair of screens by Hanabusa Itcho, which is in The Met collection, I’ve attached some comparison photos. 

I have read that Hanabusa Itcho was a close friend of Somin Yokotani. I wonder if the screens were used by Yokoya Tomotake when composing this set of tosogu.
 

[Hokke]

That is certainly a strikingly resemblance, particularly in the f/k. Beautiful set, I can see why Tomotake signed them all proudly.

[Curran]

This thread unearthed a lot of interesting examples.

 

There are no Goto ones so far.

I only have one Shi-shi and it is by Goto Kenjo.

 

My particular shi-shi seems to have the Zoomies....

Dog people will know what I mean.

[Hokke]

@CurranIt’s hard to tell from the picture, is there an inlay in the eyes?

Edited 17 hours ago by Hokke

[Dan tsuba]

Another tsuba of mine.

 

 

[Curran]

1 hour ago, Hokke said:

@CurranIt’s hard to tell from the picture, is there an inlay in the eyes?

 Yes. Gold in the eyes.

[very oxidized] Silver mane, tail, and eyebrows.

 

[Curran]

8 hours ago, thutson said:

I would like to share a lovelyset of tosogu by Yokoya Tomotake featuring Shishi play fighting. It’s a great example of katakiribori workmanship, which is done to a high level.

One intriguing thing I have noticed while studying the set is that the carvings of the Chinese Lions resemble the paintings from a pair of screens by Hanabusa Itcho, which is in The Met collection, I’ve attached some comparison photos. 

I have read that Hanabusa Itcho was a close friend of Somin Yokotani. I wonder if the screens were used by Yokoya Tomotake when composing this set of tosogu.
 

 

It is rare and interesting to me to see the menuki signed on the front like that.

Cool exception to the rule.

[Tcat]

Shameless plug, I need to find a home for these beautiful beasties if anyone is interested, click to zoom...they are currently over in the 'for sale' section.

 

 

 

On 2/25/2026 at 7:25 AM, Kurikata said:

Mine....

 

 

 

Hi Bruno, great tsuba, did you see these on ebay - https://ebay.us/m/FwRBtN -  looks like a nice match.