An Okinawan shisa (lion-dog) on a traditional Okinawan red-tiled rooftop. Shisa are placed on the roofs of homes, or in front of entrances, to ward off evil spirits. These guardian lion-dogs originated in China and were later exported to Korea, Japan, and Okinawa. All variations of the Okinawa shisa are close relatives of the Japanese shishi and the komainu lion-dogs, objects whose origin, function and symbolic meaning they share.