Artwork Page for Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)

Details / Information for Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)

Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)

1200s

Japan, Kamakura period

(1185–1333)
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Medium
Chestnut and cypress wood
Measurements
Overall: 167.9 cm (66 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1972.158
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

This is one of a pair of guardian kings, or Nio. Their fierce expressions and postures indicate their protective function.

Description

These wrathful protectors of Buddhism would have once stood within the sides of the main entrance gate to a temple. One has an open mouth that intones the sound ah, and symbolizes the beginning, or life.One has a closed mouth that intones the sound un, and symbolizes the end, or death.
Pair of grey-brown wood sculptures of human-like figures, brows furrowed, leaning to the side in animated positions. Fabric wraps around their waists. Their chests bare, a rib-cage like pattern juts out from under the pecs. They have buns on top of their otherwise smooth heads.

Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)

1200s

Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)

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