CELESTIAL GENERALS

Guardian Gods

Guardian Gods

Deity
Celestial Generals
Date / Period
Heian period, 12th century
Institution
Tokyo National Museum
Collection
The TNM Collection
Medium / Material
Wood with pigment
Dimensions
Original Japanese: 阿形 像高279.0 ; 吽形 像高275.5 AI Translation: Open-mouth figure height: 279.0 cm; closed-mouth figure height: 275.5 cm
Accession Number
C-1892
Source
ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan, Tokyo National Museum, C-1892.

Description

These two guardian gods once stood at the entrance gate of Rendaiji, a Buddhist temple to the northeast of Kyoto. Their muscular bodies, dynamic poses, and fierce expressions were intended to repel the enemies of Buddhism. The guardian on the right raises a [vajra] (thunderbolt weapon), which has the power to destroy evil and delusion.