The Shishi (or Komainu in modern Japanese) is a mythical guardian lion/dog usually seen outside Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples across China and Japan, guarding against evil. Shishi are commonly seen in pairs, one with it's mouth open, one with it's mouth closed, this is to represent the sound of the first and last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet  'a' and 'um' , symbolising the beginning and end of all things.