Snapshot English Japanese Chinese Sanskrit Korean Tibetan Benevolent Kings; Humane Kings; Gate Guardians; Thunderbolt Holders; Emanations of Vajrapani; fierce and threatening poses to ward off evil spirits; one with mouth open, one closed, uttering AH and UN; sounds represent alpha & omega, beginning & end, birth & death Niō, Nio (or Ninnō, Ninō) 仁王 (or 二王) -- Agyō 阿形 Kongō Rikishi 金剛力士 Naraen Kongō 那羅延金剛 mouth open uttering "AH" -- Ungyō 吽形 Misshaku Rikishi 密遮力士 Misshaku Kongō 密遮金剛 mouth shut uttering "UN" Rénwáng Renwang Jen-Wang 仁王 Èrwáng Erh-wang 二王 Vajrapani Vajradhara  Vajrayakṣa Narendra Narêndra Narêndra-rāja Inwang 인왕 Iwang Yiwang 이왕 Chag na dor je, Channa Dorje, Ghuyapati, Sang wa'i dag po

SOLD OUT Japanese Cinnamon Wood NIO GUARDIANS (Agyō & Ungyō) Protectors Who Stand Guard Outside the Temple Gate Sold as Pair (not sold separately) Wood = Kusunoki (Japanese Cinnamon), a mild aromatic wood Size = Height 81 cm (nearly three feet high). Very heavy. One with mouth open, the other with mouth closed. In Japan, each is named after a particular cosmic sound. The openmouthed figure is called "Agyō," who is uttering the sound "ah," meaning birth. His closed-mouth partner is called "Ungyō," who sounds "un" or "om," meaning death. Other explanations for the open/closed mouth include: (1) mouth open to scare off demons, closed to shelter/keep in the good spirits; (2) "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.  These two guardian kings are also known in Sanskrit as Vajrapani (or Vajradhara), a term meaning "holder of vajras" or "thunderbolt holder." Vajrapani is the keeper of all tantras of Vajrayana Buddhism, a form of Buddhism practiced mainly in Tibet and among Japan's esoteric sects. In Japan, the Nio are also known as Kongō Rikishi and Shitsukongō-shin. For more on the Nio, see Nio background notes or visit the A-to-Z Photo Dictionary (outside link).

 
The Nio Pair - Agyo with open mouth, Ungyo with closed mouth

AGYO CLOSEUP

UNGYO CLOSEUP

 
Agyo Views

 
Ungyo Views

 
Size View - Above individual is my main supplier. We love these two pieces.

Closeup of Agyo's Feet and Base

Closeup of Ungyo's Feet and Base