"Seeing is like hunting and like dreaming, and even like falling in love.
Seeing is metamorphosis, not mechanism. It alters the thing that is seen and transforms the seer."
- James Elkins
Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Ex Coll.: Columbia University, Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Uzi Zucker Gift and Rogers Fund, 1987 Size: H. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm) Medium: Bronze
Placed at the entrance to shrines and temples in Japan, lion-like guardian figures warded off evil spirits. These lion-dogs are distinguishable by their faces: one looks fierce, mouth closed, while the other seems mid-roar, mouth agape. The idea of guardian-lions likely came to Japan from China via Korea, giving rise to the name koma-inu meaning “Korean dog.” Size: Overall: 49.6 cm (19 ½ in.) Medium: wood with traces of polychromy
Size: Image: 22 3/8 x 15 7/8 in. (56.8 x 40.3 cm)
Mount: 53 ¼ x 20 7/8 in. (135.3 x 53 cm)
Width with scroll end: 22 7/8 in. (58.1 cm) Medium: Hanging scroll, ink, color, gofun, and mica on paper
Haniwa (clay cylinders) topped with the form of a shield, or with a shield and quiver of arrows, appear on some tomb mounds called kofun (old mounds). There are also warriors holding a shield, their heads peeping out over the tops, or diagonally across their bodies. There are even some haniwa with a warrior’s helmet sitting at the top of the cylinder above the shield. This unusual object has a shield and quiver on the front, and the face of a warrior wearing a helmet on the reverse. Size: Overall: 120 x 48.7 x 18 cm (47 ¼ x 19 3/16 x 7 1/16 in.) Medium: Earthenware with applied, cut, and incised designs and red slip
