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NIO PROTECTORS (Literally BENEVOLENT KINGS)
PROTECT ENTRANCE AT MOST JAPANESE TEMPLES
Last Update Jan. 18, 2008
Nio Products Added to Our eStore
阿形
Agyō, Agyo, Agyou, Naraen Kongō 那羅延金剛
Manifestation of Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai)
Typically shown with mouth open
吽形
Ungyō, Ungyo, Ungyou, Misshaku Kongō 密遮金剛
Manifestaion of the Hindu God Vishnu
Typically shown with mouth closed
Represent Alpha & Omega, Beginning & End, Birth & Death.
One with mouth open, the other with mouth closed.
Also called Kongō Rikishi, Kongo Rikishi, Shitsukongō-shin.
Emanations of Vajrapani Bodhisattva.
Members of the TENBU.
Origin: INDIA
 
(L) Ungyo 吽形 (R) Agyo 阿形
At Hase Dera, Kamakura; Date Unknown = Probably Modern Era
Photos by Mark Schumacher
 
(L) Ungyo 吽形 (R) Agyo 阿形
At Sanjusangendo in Kyoto
12th Century, Lifesize Wooden Statues
Scanned from Sanjusangendo Brochure
INTRODUCTION. Hindu Gods incorporated into Buddhism as protectors against evil spirits. If you look at their mouths, you will notice that one has its mouth open, representing the beginning of the universe. The other has its mouth closed, representing the end of the universe. The most famous Niō in Japan can be found at the entrance gate of Todaiji in Nara. These 26-feet-tall statues were made in 1203 AD, reportedly under the direction of the famous sculpture Unkei.
The Niō (Jp. = Benevolent Kings) are a pair of protectors who stand guard outside the temple gate at most Japanese Buddhist temples, one on either side of the entrance. In Japan, the gate itself is often called the Nio-mon (literally Nio Gate). At some Buddhist temples, the Nio guardians are replaced with a pair of mythical and magical Shishi Lion-Dogs -- one with mouth open, the other closed.
The Nio's fierce and threatening appearance is said to ward off evil spirits and keeps the temple ground free of demons and thieves. In some accounts, the Nio were said to have followed and protected the historical Buddha when he traveled throughout India. They have since been adopted by the Japanese into the Japanese Buddhist pantheon. Each is named after a particular cosmic sound. The open-mouthed figure is called "Agyo," who is uttering the sound "ah," meaning birth. His closed-mouth partner is called "Ungyo," who sounds "un" or "om," meaning death. Other explanations for the open/closed mouth include:
- Mouth open to scare off demons, closed to shelter/keep in the good spirits
- "Ah" is the first sound in the Japanese alphabet, while "N" (pronounced "un" ) is the last, so the combination symbolically represents all possible outcomes (from alpha to omega) in the cosmic dance of existence. The first letter in Sanskrit is "Ah" as well, but the last is "Ha." Nonetheless, the first and last sounds produced by the mouth are "Ah" (mouth open) and "M" (mouth closed). The Japanese "n" and the Sanskrit "m" sound exactly the same when hummed with mouth closed. The spiritual Sanskrit term AHAM thus encapsulates the first letter-sound "A," the last letter-sound "HA," and the final sound "M" when the mouth is closed.
 
Shitsukongō-shin 執金剛神 and Closeup
Clay 塑像 with paint (saishiki 彩色), H = 173.9
Tōdaiji Temple 東大寺, Nara Era
Photos by Ogawa Kōzō
Says the Flammarion Iconograhic Guide: "These two guardian kings are Vajradharas (lit. holders of vajras, thunderbolt holders, called Shukongo-jin or Shitsukongou-shin in Japan). Or they may be a type of Raksa (man-eating demons of Indian folklore). In Esoteric Buddhism, they represent two aspects of Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai). In this respect, they are sometimes confused with the wrathful forms of Fudo Myoo and Aizen Myoo. Although similar to these latter forms, they are in fact distinct from them." <end quote from Flammarion Guide>
Nio Products Added to Our eStore
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Above: Ungyō (L) Agyō 阿形 (R)
Sugimoto Dera, Kamakura
Date Unknown, Wooden Life-Size Statues
Agyō 阿形 at Sugimoto Dera, Kamakura
Ungyō 吽形 at Sugimoto Dera, Kamakura
ABOVE PHOTOS: These two guardians at Sugimoto Dera in Kamakura protect the temple's main treasure, a statue of the Kannon - Goddess of Mercy. Sugimoto is the first temple on the Bando Pilgrimage to 33 Sites Sacred to Kannon, and was established in the 9th century. Photos by Mark Schumacher.
KONGO RIKISHI -- needs confirmation !
One of the most famous Nio pairs can be found at the entrance gate of Todai-ji Temple in Nara. The 26-foot-tall statues at Todai-ji (Toudaiji) were made in 1203 AD, reportedly under the direction of the famous sculptures Unkei and Kaikei. They represent the Vajra god in two forms; one is masculine with mouth tightly closed; the other is feminine with mouth open. (Editor's Note: need to determine if pair represents male and female forms)
 
Agyō 阿形 H = 836.3 cm
Kongou (Kongo,Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Wood with paint (saishiki 彩色)
Made by the famous Kei school of sculptors
(including Unkei and Kaikei) in the Kamakura Era.
Toudaiji Temple 東大寺 (Tōdaiji, Todaiji), Nara
 
Ungyō 吽形 H = 842.3 cm
Kongou (Kongo,Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Wood with paint (saishiki 彩色)
Made by the famous Kei school of sculptors
(including Unkei and Kaikei) in the Kamakura Era.
Toudaiji Temple 東大寺 (Tōdaiji, Todaiji), Nara
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Agyō 阿形
14th Century, Kamakura Era
Photo taken at Smithsonian, D.C.
Originally created to stand guard outside the entrance to
Ebaradera, a temple located in Sakai City, near Osaka
 
Agyō 阿形 H = 378 cm
Kongou (Kongo, Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Clay (sozou 塑像) with paint (saishiki 彩色)
Nara Era, 711 AD (Wadō Period Year 4)
Houryuuji Temple 法隆寺
 
Ungyō 吽形 H = 375 cm
Kongou (Kongo, Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Clay (sozou 塑像) with paint (saishiki 彩色)
Nara Era, 711 AD (Wadō Period Year 4)
Houryuuji Temple 法隆寺
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 Below text from Minneapolis Institute
of Art web site
(www-artsmia.org)
According to a Japanese story, there once was a king who had two wives. His first wife bore a thousand children who all decided to become monks and follow the Buddha's law. His second wife had only two sons. The youngest was named Non-o and helped his monk brothers with their worship. The eldest, Kongorikishi, however, had a much more aggressive personality. He vowed to protect the Buddha and his worshipers by fighting against evil and ignorance. Kongorikishi was the first of the heavenly kings, called Nio (or Kongo). The second is called Shukongoshin. Within the generally pacifist traditions of Buddhism, stories of Nio guardians like Kongorikishi justified the use of physical force to protect cherished values and beliefs against evil.
Other Naming Conventions
In Japan, the Nio guardian figures are named Misshaku Kongo (Agyo) and Naraen Kongo (Ungyo). They represent the use of overt power and latent power, respectively. Naraen is also called Narayana (Sanskrit).
Conceived as a pair, the Nio complement each other. Misshaku represents overt power, baring his teeth and raising his fist in action, while Naraen represents latent might, holding his mouth tightly closed and waiting with both arms tensed but lowered.
Gigaku Mask Photos courtesy GAKUGEKI KAMEN
Kongo: Open mouth, plus topknot.
Rikishi: Closed mouth, no topknot.
 
Japanese Spelling for the Nio Protectors
(L) Ungyo and (R) Agyo
 
(L) Ungyō and (R) Agyō
Click any image above to see larger photo.
ABOVE: Wooden life-size statues at
Jufukuji Zen Temple, Kamakura
Agyō at Sanjūsangendō, Kyoto
12th Century, Life-size Wooden Statue
Scanned from Temple Brochure
BELOW TEXT COURTESY JEFF WATT:
www.hikyaku.com/dico/histxtg21.html
Watt-san is the Director of Himalayanart.org
Mahasthamaprapta & Vajrapani (Kongo Rikishi, same as Vajrapani)
Misshaku also known as Guhyapati (Tibetan: sang wa'i dag po)
Alternative words: Konkou rikishi, Kongorikishi, Kongourikishi, Nio, Niou, Benevolent King, Vajrapani, Vajradara
Vajrapani (or Vajradara) means "thunderbolt holder" in Sanskrit.
Vajrapani is the keeper of all tantras of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Kongorikishi is a Hindu god who has accepted to become a guardian of Buddhism. He frequently appears as two angry warriors at the gate of Japanese temples: Mitsushaku Kongo stands on the left and carries a thunderbolt stick while Naraen Kongo is on the right with a saber. The statues created by Unkei and Kaikei and located at the south main gate of Todaiji temple (Kyoto) are a master piece of Kamakura sculpture. Vajrapani or Vajradara means "thunderbolt stick holder" in Sanskrit.
Vajrapani, dark blue in colour with one face and two hands, appears in the form of a raksha (a daemon of classical Indian mythology) with three large staring eyes, a gaping mouth with bared canine teeth and orange beard, eyebrows and hair flowing upward like flame. The body is squat, large and fleshy. Adorned with a crown of five skulls with red pendants and gold earrings, bone necklace and bracelets, anklets, and a large green snake, he wears a long green scarf and a lower garment of tiger skin tied with a green sash. With the right leg bent and the left extended above a sun disc and multi-coloured lotus Vajrapani stands in the middle of the blazing fire of pristine awareness. Placed in front as an offering, framed by two ivory elephant tusks, an assortment of wishing jewels are arranged on a plain green landscape - painted in the style of Eastern Tibet.
At the top left is a seated buddha, yellow in colour with the right hand performing the mudra of 'earth witness' and the left placed in the mudra of meditation; seated in vajra posture above a moon disc and lotus. At the right is the deity of purification, Vajrasattva, white in colour with one face and two hands holding a vajra in the right held to the heart and with the left an upturned bell in the lap. Adorned with a crown, jewel ornaments and variously coloured silk garments he sits in the vajra posture above a moon disc and lotus seat.
Vajrapani represents the power aspect of complete enlightenment, and is known as Guhyapati (Tibetan: sang wa'i dag po). He is the 'Lord of Secrets' -- the keeper of all the tantras of Vajrayana Buddhism. As a bodhisattva, like Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara, he dwells on the 10th bodhisattva level just prior to attaining complete buddhahood. In actuality all three were completely enlightened aeons ago and only appear, for the sake of training others, in the guise of bodhisattvas.
Vajrapani is common to all Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and has numerous forms and practices which span all sets of tantric classification and levels of complexity from a solitary aspect up to the large and complex mandalas with many deities.
Above text written by Jeff Watt 7-98
(Jeff-san curates: www.himalayanart.org)
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NOTES:
Fudo Myo-o and Aizen Myo-o are sometimes mistakenly identified with the Nio Protectors. Says the Flammarion Iconograhic Guide:
"In Esoteric Buddhism, the Nio pair represent two aspects of Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai). In this respect, they are sometimes confused with the wrathful forms of Fudo Myoo and Aizen Myoo. Although similar to these latter forms, they are in fact distinct from them, and are named Garbhavira and Vajravira." <end quote from Flammarion Guide>
 
Agyō 阿形
Also spelled Agyo or Agyō
One of the Nio, or Kongōrikishi 金剛力士
Standing, H = 326.3 cm
Hollow Dry Lacquer (Jp. = Dakkatsu Kanshitsu 脱活乾漆)
Tōdaiji Temple 東大寺, Nara Era
hotos by Ogawa Kouzou
 
Agyō 阿形 H = 154 cm
Also spelled Agyo or Agyō
Kongou (Kongo,Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Wood, with paint applied.
Kamakura Era
Koufukuji Temple 興福寺
 
Ungyō 吽形 H = 153.7 cm
Also spelled Ungyo or Ungyō
Kongou (Kongo,Kongō) Rikishi 金剛力士
Wood, with paint applied.
Kamakura Era
Koufukuji Temple 興福寺
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