Untitled - Heather James Fine Art

Pair of Temple Figures, NioJapanese, late Muromachi to early Edo Period (1467 – 1652)Wood71 in. high each1072 / AS1108The Nio (Benevolent Kings) are a pair of protectors who stand guard outside the temple gate at most Japanese Buddhist temples, one oneither side of the entrance. The fierce and threatening facial expressions on the Nio wards off evil spirits and keep the temple ground free ofdemons and thieves. The subjects are Indian in origin as manifestations of Vajrapani Bodhisattvas and by some accounts, the Nio were saidto have followed and protected the historical Buddha when he traveled throughout India. Each is named after a particular cosmic sound. Theclosed-mouth figure is called Ungyo, who sounds “un” or “om” meaning death. The open-mouthed partner is called Misshaku Kongo (Agyo)who utters the sound “ah” meaning birth and is equated with the Indian deity Vajrapani, whose name means “Thunderbolt Holder.”