Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto Shrine located on the foothills of a mountain in Kyoto, is dedicated to the Inari spirit protecting agricultural production. Access to a Shinto temple is often marked by statues of animals (Komainu) which may look like a lion or fox and are generally decorated with a ceremonial red bib and may have an object in their mouth, like a rolled message (sutra) or a key.
Do you know what this fox is holding? Please comment below.
Sculpture Saturday is a challenge hosted by Susan Kelly at No Fixed Plans.
Salsaworldtraveler'sblog 
Cool statue!
I don’t know what the fox is holding but it seems like millet.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Someone says it is rice. That makes sense.
LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s something a little ancient Egyptian about this fox i feel…
LikeLiked by 4 people
You’re right. It doesn’t seem traditional Japanese..
LikeLiked by 1 person
♡ Thank you for sharing My Brother, My Friend; it looks like a flail to me – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flail
…♡♡♡…
LikeLiked by 3 people
You are very welcome! Glad you liked this post. The object the fox is holding does look like a flail. Another comment explained that it is actually a sheath or stalk of rice. That makes sense because this fox is a symbol for agriculture. Thanks for the comment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
♡ …no worries and the rice connection makes agricultural sense as early farming implements were often derived from the plant they were used on, as per the link flails in more recent times are two pieces of connected wood
…♡♡♡…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi.
Great Post + Thanks.
Foxes (Kitsune) are a common Japanese Traditional Icon.
Dedicated to Inari. A Crop Protective Deity.
Many Statues with individual Characteristics.
This One You present appears carrying a
Rice Sheaf. Others carry Keys, Scrolls, Jewels
even Baby Cubs. Quite old possibly dating back to
the 7th Century.?. Many are Paired as per Custom.
An Overview can be found here:
https://buffaloah.com/a/virtual/jap/kyoto_fushimi/fushimi.html
Hope this Helps.
Thanks Much For Such A Post. Great
In Deeds. Indeed
Stay Safe + Take Care.
Till Next… Shiro 😎
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this illuminating information. Your knowledge n this subject and research skills surpass mine. I thought it might be rice the fox was holding but wasn’t sure. Take care and thanks again.
LikeLiked by 3 people
so cool, have to go here when I manage to visit Kyoto 🙂 thanks for sharing, have a perfect weekend! PedroL
LikeLiked by 2 people
You will be impressed with the shrines in Kyoto. Thank you for following my blog. Stay well, John
LikeLike
You’re welcome John 🙂 PedroL
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen this near Kyoto and love the redtori gates that go up the mountain.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The shrines and gates create quite an impression. I read that there are more than one thousand gates.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I on’t know what is in its mouth, but that is a cool statue…
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is cool. I wish I knew more about what it represents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s nice that they seem to put so much thought into the statue and what it represents…
LikeLike
Wonderful statue
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. I wish I was more into Shinto and Japanese culture to understand it.
LikeLiked by 1 person