The Shrine Guardians - T-Shirt

Bring home a guardian duo with centuries of meaning. This komainu (lion-dog) shirt channels the protective spirit of Japanese shrine gatekeepers.

The design

Derived directly from a matched pair of 13th-century wooden statues, our design shows two classic guardians of a Shinto shrine. Interestingly their composition crosses over into Buddhist imagery: One komainu has an open mouth (agyō) and the other a closed mouth (ungyō), which reminds us of the fierce guardian deities (niō) found in Buddhist temples. 

We contrast these century-old statues with a contemporary streetwear design – which belies the deeply spiritual background of the motif and turns this shirt into an undercover agent of sophistication (one that layers well below an zippered hoodie or a flannel shirt, to boot).

Why you'll love it

• A unique blend of traditional Japanese imagery and contemporary streetwear typography design
• Perfect for fans of Japanese art, folklore and history
  
• Matches perfectly with Jeans and also works well as a layering-piece