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Ni-ō
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Ni-o Ungyō, the closed-mouthed figure of a pair of Niō, or Heavenly Kings, both of whom are protector gods (manifestations of Vajrapani bodhisattva), painted wood sculpture by Unkei, 1203; at the Great South Gate of the Tōdai Temple, Nara, Japan. Height 8.42 metres.
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Ni-o
Ni-o Ni-o, statue at the gate of the Todai Temple, Nara, Japan.

Ni-ō

Buddhist mythology
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Also known as: Niō
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Japanese:
“Two Kings”
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Ni-ō, in Japanese Buddhist mythology, protector of the Buddhist faith, who makes a dual appearance as the guardian on either side of temple gateways. The guardian on the right side is called Kongō (“Thunderbolt”), or Kongō-rikishi; he holds a thunderbolt, with which he destroys evil, and is associated with the bodhisattva (“buddha-to-be”) Vajrapani. The guardian on the left side of the gateway is called Misshaku, or Misshaku-rikishi. The two are depicted as gigantic figures, either heavily armoured or with naked chests and flowing scarves, as seen in the superbly spirited 13th-century guardians of the Tōdai Temple at Nara, Japan.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.