Karashishi lion with a pearl and a cub – netsuke

The ivory miniature of the stylized Chinese lion karashishi with its cub and a magic pearl, which bestows special guardian qualities upon figures of lions or dragons in Asian mythology, served as a fastener that was attached to the obi sash of a kimono. Like the Chinese or Japanese dragon, the karashishi lion is a mythical animal. Its likeness is a combination of various real animals and fantastic images. The karashishi (literally “Chinese lion”) is a typical guardian animal.