The Tōshōgū Shrine complex of Nikkō, Japan, is famed 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 them, commonly referred to as “Sōzō-no-Zō”, the “Imaginary Elephants.” The sculpture is located on the gable of the Kamijinko (Upper Sacred Storehouse), where a pair of strange-looking beasts grin with crescent-shaped eyes. The sculpture on the left is green and white, while the other is black. Both are…
