Pair of Guardian Kings (Niō)
Unknown Artist
1200s
Medium
Chestnut and cypress wood
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.679}}
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
Accession Number
1972.158
About this artwork
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.