Legend of the Shiisa

Legend of the Shiisa

A popular Okinawan legend tells of an angry and vicious dragon that once besieged the islands. One day the desperate islanders placed a shiisa statue that belonged to a local boy on the beach just as the monster was approaching. The tiny lion roared and out leapt a living lion large enough to fight and drown the dragon. Its body was changed into a new string of offshore islands, and afterward there were no more attacks.

To this day, homes and businesses often display two shiisa lions—one with its mouth open to scare off evil spirits and the other with its mouth closed to keep in good spirits. The lions are thought of as good-luck talismans, and they are popular keepsakes sold by dozens of souvenir shops on Kokusai-dori in Naha.