Okinawa｜From the Lion God to the Tourism Mark, See the Different Styles and History

When you see Shisa, you will think of Okinawa. Just like the blue sky and beach and hibiscus, it has become a special tourist mark of Okinawa. During your trip to Okinawa, it is also a pleasure to find Shisa of various shapes and colors.
Shisa is said to have been introduced in the 13th and 14th centuries during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. According to Japanese documents, the earliest one was located in the Tomori area of ​​Yaese Town in the southwest.
At that time, there were constant fires of unknown causes in the Tomori area, so this "Tomori Stone Lion" was built to achieve the purpose of suppressing evil and avoiding fire. According to legend, it was introduced from China at that time, and the lion became Shisa, and because of the change in pronunciation, it finally became Shisa. But in some places in the Yaeyama Islands, Shisa is still used.

The stone lions became pottery lions in the 18th century when the red tile craft in Okinawa appeared. At that time, red tiles were only used in Shuri Castle and shrines. Therefore, the ancient Shisa gods seen in Shuri Castle and shrines now have different demeanor and appearance from the modern Shisa gods.

It was not until the Meiji period that the restrictions were abolished and Shisa entered the homes of the people and became the guardian gods of the families. In recent decades, due to the prosperity of tourism, Shisa gods have become the symbol of Okinawa, and their appearance has changed greatly. For example, in Kokusai-dori, the lions that are nearly three meters taller than people and look cute have become a photo spot. Don Quixote also put Shisa's headgear on the mascot, which is full of Okinawan flavor; ramen restaurants have also turned the guardian gods into cartoon mascots who love to eat ramen. The appearance has also changed from the realistic solemnity of the traditional stone lions to smiling and even cute shapes, and the material has also changed from clay to glaze. If you travel to Okinawa, you can find different shops and I believe you will find more fun.

Attached is the address of the huge Kokusai Street shop: 1st floor, Highshine Building, 1 Chome−2−31, Makishi, Okinawa, Naha, 900-0013, Japan

#5月好去地方2025

Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Jun 9, 2025