National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Chidou literally means opening the way, referring to a senior. It is said that Chidou led the procession together with a lion. The back of the head, which was originally made separately and then jointed, has been lost. The face seems to have been painted in a rather reddish flesh color. For the top of the head, however, the wooden ground is left as is. Formerly, a crown or a cap seems to have covered it.