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Encyclopedia > Kongorikishi
The Diamond-rod wielding Shukongoshin (Agyo), Asakusa Temple, Japan.
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The Diamond-rod wielding Shukongoshin (Agyo), Asakusa Temple, Japan.

Kongorikishi is one of the two Niō (仁王, lit. Two kings) protective deities, the 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. According to Japanese tradition, these guardians travelled with the historical Buddha to protect him. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 163 KB)Shukongooshin, Asakusa Temple, Tokyo, Japan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 163 KB)Shukongooshin, Asakusa Temple, Tokyo, Japan. ... Sensoji temple, Asakusa, Tokyo Sensōji (金龍山浅草寺, Kinryū_san Sensōji) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō Ward, Tōkyō. ... The Niō (仁王, lit. ... A stone image of the Buddha. ...


Kongorikishi, also called Ungyo (うん形), is depicted either bare-handed or wielding a sword. He symbolizes latent strength, holding his mouth tightly shut. His mouth is rendered to form the sound "Un", leading to his alternate name. He, like the other Nio, is a manifestation of the Bodhisattva Vajrapani, protector deity of the Buddha. Prince Siddhartha Gautama as a bodhisattva, before becoming a Buddha. ... Vajrapani (Sanskrit Vajra:thunderbolt/diamond, Pani:lit. ...

This wooden Kongorikishi statue originally guarded the gate to Ebaradera, a temple in Sakai, Osaka.
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This wooden Kongorikishi statue originally guarded the gate to Ebaradera, a temple in Sakai, Osaka.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (906x1780, 1428 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Kamakura shogunate Sakai, Osaka Kongorikishi ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (906x1780, 1428 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Kamakura shogunate Sakai, Osaka Kongorikishi ... Sakai (堺市; -shi) is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. ...

See also

  • Greco-Buddhism
  • Greco-Buddhist art

Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelled Græco-Buddhism, is the cultural syncretism between the culture of Classical Greece and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 800 years in Central Asia in the area corresponding to modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, between the 4th century BCE and the 5th... Gandhara Buddha, 1st-2nd century CE. Greco-Buddhist art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between the Classical Greek culture and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 1000 years in Central Asia, between the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century...

References

  • "Religions and the Silk Road" by Richard C. Foltz (St. Martin's Press, 1999) ISBN 0312233388
  • "The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity" by John Boardman (Princeton University Press, 1994) ISBN 0691036802
  • "Old World Encounters. Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges in pre-modern times" by Jerry H.Bentley (Oxford University Press, 1993) ISBN 0195076397
  • "Alexander the Great: East-West Cultural contacts from Greece to Japan" (NHK and Tokyo National Museum, 2003)

External links

Nio Protectors, the benevolent kings

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  Results from FactBites:
 
Nio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (273 words)
It has been suggested that Kongorikishi be merged into this article or section.
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.
The other, Ungyō (吽形) or Kongorikishi, is depicted either bare-handed or wielding a sword.
Nio Protectors of Japan - Japanese Buddhism Photo Dictionary (1252 words)
Kongorikishi was the first of the heavenly kings, called Nio (or Kongo).
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.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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