Lotus Shishi Tee

蓮と獅子 (hasu to shishi): "the lotus and the lion."

No lion ever lived wild in Japan. The animal came with Buddhism, carved and painted, after a long trip east from India through China and Korea. In the sutras the Buddha's teaching is called the lion's roar, shishiku in Japanese, for its fearless voice, and Monju, the bodhisattva of wisdom, rides a lion in temples across the country. The lotus is Buddhist too: it roots in mud and opens clean above the water, which is why buddhas sit on lotus thrones.

A red and cream lion face fills the back, its beard curling in tight spirals, with a lotus crown on its head and a flaming jewel above. A small red lotus sits on the chest. There's no Japanese text to translate on this one, just the lion and the flower.

The small lotus keeps the front quiet until someone sees the lion's face on the back, red on black. It's as at home on a temple visit as in a gallery or the gym. Look over the other Japanese art tees too.

• Fabric: 100% combed cotton, 230gsm, pre-shrunk and soft-washed
• Print: direct-to-garment (DTG)
• Color: black
• Fit: unisex, regular; size up for a boxier, oversized look
• Sizes: S to 3XL
• Size reference: 6 ft 2 in wears L; 5 ft 7 in wears M

Measurements for every size are in the size guide.