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Guardian King  

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Original TIF File

3741 × 6061 pixels (22.67 MP)

31.7 cm × 51.3 cm @ 300 PPI

68.1 MB

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Alternative files
Nio - back

Nio - back

404 KB

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Nio - left side

Nio - left side

276 KB

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Nio - right side.png

Nio - right side.png

278 KB

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Resource details

Resource ID

9458

Metadata
Default
Description
Further Sources

Source Title

Guardian Figure: Nio

Country/Region

Japan, Shiga Prefecture

Dynasty/Period/Ruler

Kamakura period (1185-1333)

Source date

1200s

Dimensions

H. 167.9 cm

Categories

disciplines/cosmography/cosmology, disciplines/culture/religion/Buddhism, materials/botanical/wood/Chestnut, materials/botanical/wood/Cypress, themes/cardinal directions/lokapalas/guardians/four heavenly kings

Current Location

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, USA

Provenance

sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1972)

 

Yanagi Fine Art Shop, Kyoto, Japan (1972)

 

Buddhist temple in Shiga Prefecture

Reference

1972.158.2

The Cleveland Museum of Art

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1972.158.2

Description

A pair of guardians usually stands at the entrance of Japanese Buddhist temples. Traditionally, the pair included a closed-mouth figure, one hand displayed as if indicating his potential power, and an open-mouth figure, expelling his full force against evil spirits. Nio figures were usually displayed outdoors, often with just the roof of the entrance gate as protection, and as such were particularly susceptible to weathering.

 

Sculpted in an expressive, dynamic style, this figure was created using several pieces of wood carefully joined together. This imposing figure was originally painted, though is substantially faded due to weathering. The carved wooden bases for the two guardian figures on display are modern replacements.

 

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.

Additional Information

Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 

Bibliography

Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1972.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 60, no. 3, 1973, pp. 63–115. Reproduced: p. 98, no. 290; Mentioned: p. 114 www.jstor.org

 

Zenzo Shimizu, "Japanese Sculptures in America and Canada," Ars Buddhica 佛教藝術, no. 126 (September 1979), part I, pp. 67-88. Reproduced: fig. 13

 

Roukes, Nicholas. Masters of Wood Sculpture. New York: Watson-Guptill Publishers, 1980. Reproduced: p. 14

Consent management
License management
License ID Type Licensor / licensee Usage medium Description Expiration date
12 Inbound CC BY-SA 1.0 You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. This license is acceptable for Free Cultural Works. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. No expiry date
Location Data

Marker lat / long: 35.116667, 136.066667 (WGS84)

Metadata report

Related resources
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  Geography / East Asia / Japan
  Materials / wood
  Museums / The Cleveland Museum of Art
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