Page 18 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

5 | AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF
NIO BRONZE GUARDIANS
Japan, 18th – earlier 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The Kongorikishi cast with a wrathful expression, finely cold-painted,
both standing on layered rockwork and wearing flowing skirts with
heavenly bands, their muscular chests and arms left bare. They are
modelled after Ungyo and Agyo, the two monumental 13th century
cypress figures at Todaiji temple, Nara, Japan.
HEIGHT 55 cm (each)
WEIGHT 14.7 kilograms (both together)

Condition: Superb condition with only minor wear. Good natural
patina. Minor losses to painting.
Provenance: From an old English private collection.
Nio or Kongorikishi are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the
Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples
in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like
statues. They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva
Vajrapani, the oldest and most powerful of the Mahayana Buddhist
pantheon. According to Japanese tradition, they travelled with
Gautama Buddha to protect him. Within the generally pacifist
tradition of Buddhism, stories of dharmapalas justified the use of
physical force to protect cherished values and beliefs against evil.
Nio are also seen as a manifestation of Mahasthamaprapta, the
bodhisattva of power that flanks Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism
and as Vajrasattva in Tibetan Buddhism. They are usually a pair of
figures that stand under a separate temple entrance gate usually
called Niomon in Japan. The right statue is called Misshaku Kongo
and has his mouth open, and the left statue is called Naraen
Kongo and has his mouth closed. Similar to Alpha and Omega in
Christianity, they signify “everything”.

Estimate EUR 5.000,- Two Nio who stand in the left (Ungyo) and the right (Agyo)
Starting price EUR 2.500,- of sanmon (gate) at Zentsu-ji, Nara, Japan

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