What is Japanese NIO?

Kongorikishi was the first of the heavenly kings, called Nio. The Nio were originally Hindu gods in India, who were adopted by the Japanese into the Buddhist pantheon. The Nio, also called Kongo, all came to be considered aggressive guardian deities in the tradition of Kongorikishi.

Who is Nio statue?

Niō (仁王) 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 Vajrapāṇi, the oldest and most powerful of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon.

Who is Jizo?

Jizo is a Japanese name and Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) a person who has attained prajna, or enlightenment, but postpones Buddhahood (Nirvana) to help others to attain enlightenment and transcend the “wheel of life”.

Who is Kannon?

Kannon is a Bodhisattva, which means she has prolonged her own eternal enlightenment to stay behind and help everyone who suffers in this world. Twenty-nine of the temples on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage are dedicated to Kannon.

What is Ungyo and AGYO?

The open-mouthed one is making the “a” sound and is known as “agyo” and the closed-mouth is making the “n” sound and is called “ungyo”. These are the first and last syllables in Japanese and symbolize beginning and end, birth and death, equivalent to the alpha and omega in Greco-European culture.

Who are AGYO and Ungyo?

Who is AGYO?

Nio are two fearsome, muscular, wrath-filled protectors of Buddha known as Agyo and Ungyo found at temple gates in Japan. He is depicted as a protector of Buddha who is often by his side.

Is Jizo a God?

Jizo is a Bodhisattva (Japanese Buddhist god) who plays a special role as a protector of children and unborn children who died before their parents. Jizo is popular because of his role as a protector of children. Jizo statues appear in great numbers at Japanese temples, cemeteries and shrines.

What is a statue in Japan?

Japanese Jizo statues: ancient protectors of the trail They’re also known as the ‘earth bearer’, so jizo statues are made out of stone, which is said to have a spiritual power for protection and longevity that predates Buddhist beliefs.

Who is Miao Shan?

According to Chinese folklore, Princess Miao Shan is believed to be one of the incarnations of the Guanyin Bodhisattva, also known in Chinese mythology as the Goddess of Mercy. Though there are many variations on the legend of Miao Shan, the general story holds that she was the third and youngest child of a cruel king.

Who is ksitigarbha?

The statue depicts Jizō (Ksitigarbha in Sanskrit), who in Japanese Buddhism is the bodhisattva of the earth, and is considered a protector of children and travelers. He is also a rescuer of beings in hell and is considered a guardian of souls for children that have died before their parents.