‘Imaginary Elephants’ – Toshogu Shrine

The Toshogu Shrine complex in Nikko , Japan , is famous for its architectural and sculptural beauty, most notably the Three Wise Monkeys and the ” Sleeping Cat “. These are two of the so-called Three Sculptures of Nikkō . The final sculpture is the least known of these, commonly known as ” Sōzō-no-Zō ” or the “Imaginary Elephants”.

The sculpture is located at the front of the Kamijinko (Upper Sacred Storehouse) where a pair of strange-looking animals smile with crescent-shaped eyes. The sculpture on the left is green and white, while the other is black. Both have golden fangs and are made in the Japanese style.

The Kamijinko was built in 1635, and the designs for its sculptures were commissioned from the famous painter Kanō Tan’yū . However, Tan’yū had never seen an elephant before. He had no choice but to design the animals according to the readings and word of mouth descriptions.

Before the creation of the sculpture , there were only three instances where live elephants were brought to Japan. Only powerful samurai lords could see these animals. Tokugawa Ieyasu , founder of the Tokugawa shogunate , received an elephant as a gift in 1602, but it was not until 1728 that another arrived in Japan.

Tan’yū’s designs were very precise and included impressive detail. There are a few more stylized elephants on the sanctuary premises, including a couple that stand on the sides of the ” Imaginary Elephants “, along with gargoyles guarding the roofs.

Nikko is very easy to get to by train , including the super- fast Shinkansen or bullet train , making it a comfortable ride from Tokyo. And although it is possible to travel by plane, bus or boat, the train offers the best prices and convenience of all . For an even better price, we recommend traveling with the Japan Railways universal pass called JR PASS , which you can purchase on their website. This pass is purchased before traveling to Japan , arriving at the airport or at any train station , you can pick up your pass with proof of purchase .