There were guardian dog-like statues on both sides of the slightly open door

Slightly opened door — Slightly open door

As I was walking through the town of Ubud, something caught my eye—it appeared to be a Balinese Hindu temple. A tall wooden gate stood slightly ajar. The way it was half-open was tantalizingly ambiguous, neither clearly inviting nor explicitly forbidding. I stood there for a while, uncertain whether I was welcome. Then I noticed a pair of stone statues flanking the entrance, staring out as if guarding the threshold. They reminded me of komainu, the guardian dogs that protect the entrances of Shinto shrines in Japan.

These statues are known in Bali as singa, sacred beasts revered in Balinese Hinduism as protectors against misfortune and evil spirits. Derived from ancient Indian mythology, these lion-like spiritual creatures are often placed at the entrances of homes and temples to maintain the sanctity of the space within. It’s fascinating to note that similar guardian figures exist across East Asia—like Okinawa’s shisa and Japan’s komainu—all serving comparable protective roles. Despite the differences in names and forms, they share a strikingly similar image of lion-like dignity, transcending cultures to hold a common position as divine guardians.

Knowing that their purpose is to ward off evil and allow only those with a pure heart to pass, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of their gaze. It was as if something within me whispered, “Not yet.” In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to step through the gate.

Ubud on Google Map

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