Cleveland Museum of Art
Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)
- Date
- 1200s
- Medium
- Chestnut and cypress wood
- Culture
- Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)
- Department
- Japanese Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
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. This is one of a pair of guardian kings, or Nio. Their fierce expressions and postures indicate their protective function.
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