Kendatsuba (Lion Crown)

乾闥婆（獅子冠）

At a glance — Sculpture · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Sculpture
Period: Nanbokuchō period, 14th century
Date: 1301–1400
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-58334

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Same period: Nanbokuchō sculpture →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

This mask — or rather a headgear — of a stylized lion, whose fangs and ears have been lost, was likely used for the role of Kendatsuba, one of the Twenty-Eight Attendants that protect Buddhism. This Buddhist guardian god is known for wearing a lion-shaped crown.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-58334 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-58334
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Kendatsuba (Lion Crown)（乾闥婆（獅子冠））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-58334. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/kendatsuba-lion-crown/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Genre: Sculpture
Material: Wood with pigment
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Category: Sculpture:Masks:Other
員数: 1個
分類: 彫刻
品質形状: 木造、彩色
法量: 19.6×15.7
種別: 彫刻:仮面:その他

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Important Cultural Property