XXI - Nikko

Niō (仁王) ― or Kongōrikishi (金剛力士) ― are two angry and muscular guardians which usually stand at the entrance of Buddhist temples in Japan. The right statue is called Naraen Kongō (那羅延金剛) and his mouth is open, mimicking the first sound in Sanskrit alphabet (अ) which is pronounced "a". The left statue is called Misshaku Kongō (密迹金剛) and his mouth is closed, signifying the last sound (म) which is pronounced "hūm". These two characters together symbolize the birth and death of all things, and thus the whole of creation.

Misshaku Kongō is also called Ungyō (吽形) in Japanese (with reference to the sound he is making), and is depicted either bare-handed or wielding a sword.

These two statues are part of Omotemon (表門 or おもてもん, "front gate") gate in Tosho-gu, also called Niomon gate (仁王門), because of them.