White Fox Statue Marble Stone Sculpture Inari Shrine Handmade Japanese Garden L

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Product Description

White Fox Inari Shrine Statue carved from Italian Marble.

1998 Model. We will ship the fox shown in the photo. The black parts are biotite.

📏 Product Details

About Tomatsu Stone Works

Stone Carving Works Tomatsu (Tomatsu Stone Works) is a stone workshop founded in 1902. The fourth-generation master, a graduate of an art university, specializes in crafting Buddhist statues, guardian lion-dog statues (Komainu), busts, and dragon sculptures. It is a professional studio that produces these stone artworks upon request from other Japanese stonemasons.

About Inari Shrines and Foxes

Inari shrines and their fox motifs are beloved by international visitors for their mystical and uniquely Japanese atmosphere. The fox statues and talismans are also popular souvenirs.

What Is an Inari Shrine?

Inari shrines are dedicated to Inari Ōkami, one of the most widely venerated deities in Japan. There are more than 30,000 Inari shrines throughout the country, with the most famous being Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.

Why Are Foxes Present at Inari Shrines?

• Inari is the god of rice and agriculture, and foxes were believed to protect grain from pests like mice.
• Foxes were seen as mysterious, intelligent creatures with supernatural powers.
• Living in rural and mountainous areas, foxes were viewed as intermediaries between the divine and human worlds.

Guardian Fox Statues (Koma-kitsune)

At Inari shrines, a pair of fox statues is typically placed at the entrance or near the main hall. These foxes resemble the traditional guardian lion-dog statues (komainu) and are often depicted with symbolic items:

• Right fox (mouth open / "A" form): Often holding a jewel or key.
• Left fox (mouth closed / "Un" form): May hold a scroll or rice stalk.

This pairing symbolizes the “A-Un” breathing—the beginning and end of all things, a common motif in Japanese religious architecture.

The White Fox Legend

The foxes associated with Inari are often depicted as white foxes, symbolizing purity and divinity. Legends say that white foxes appeared to humans as messengers of Inari, delivering guidance or performing miracles.

The Appeal of Italian Marble

Physical Beauty and Properties

• When polished, it exhibits a mirror-like luster, adding elegance to interior spaces.
• Depending on the origin and cutting method, the marble's patterns are diverse, creating unique expressions.
• Softer than granite and more susceptible to acid, it is primarily used for interior decoration and decorative purposes.

Cultural and Historical Value

• A symbol of beauty, it has been used continuously from ancient Rome to Renaissance architecture.
• Carrara and Statuario marbles were favored by sculptors including Michelangelo.
• The brand "high-quality marble = Italian" has been established worldwide.

Modern Uses

• Flooring and wall coverings in public buildings such as luxury hotels and airports.
• Residential countertops, bathrooms, furniture, and interior accessories.
• Artistic uses such as sculptures, monuments, and tombstones.

How About Your Guardian Deity?

This fox statue brings a sense of protection and presence to any space, whether as garden décor or a symbolic ornament.

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