Nio
|
|
The Niō (仁王, lit. Benevolent kings) are two wrath-filled and muscular guardians of the Buddha, standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in Japan under the appearance of frightening wrestler-like statues.
Shukongoshin.JPG
One of the protectors, Agyo (阿形) or Shukongōshin, is a symbol of overt violence: he wields a thunderbolt stick and bares his teeth.
The other, Ungyo (うん形) or Kongo Rikishi, is either bare handed or wields a sword and symbolizes latent strength, holding his mouth tightly shut.
Both are manifestations of the Bodhisattva Vajrapani, protector deity of the Buddha.
The Nio Protectors are part of the Mahayana pantheon and as such were probably influenced by the Greco-Buddhist interaction of Buddhism with the Hellenistic culture of Central Asia from the 4th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. Together with the Herculean expression of Vajrapani in Mahayana Buddhism, their attributes, physical qualities and attitudes seem to get their inspiration from those of the Greek god Heracles.
External link:
Nio Protectors, the benevolent kings (http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/nio.shtml)