Shisa (シーサー Shīsā, Okinawan: shiisaa) is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. In magic typology, they are sometimes also be classified as gargoyle beasts. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils. People place pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses, with the left shisa traditionally has a closed mouth, the right one an open mouth. The open mouth traditionally wards off evil spirits, and the closed mouth keeps good spirits in.