Ho-ozan Manman-ji Temple
Main Image Wooden Kongo Rikishi Statues (Agyo and Ungyo) Category Tenbu (Deva)
Impression TagsPowerDignityTense Presence
DescriptionManman-ji’s wooden Kongo Rikishi are a pair of Agyo and Ungyo guardian statues designated as a national Important Cultural Property. Carved in joined-block construction from kaya wood and painted, the Agyo stands 288 cm tall and the Ungyo 258 cm. Their piercing crystal eyes, powerfully modeled muscles and garments that sweep with the movement of the bodies combine dynamic energy with stability; Chiba Prefecture regards them as outstanding representative Kongo Rikishi images of the Muromachi period. An inscription inside records a restoration in 1474. The statues are unveiled three times each year, at New Year and during spring and autumn observances. During these openings, worshippers can participate in the Nio matakuguri ritual, passing between the legs of the Agyo statue while praying for freedom from illness and misfortune. The opportunity to approach the images closely and take part in a devotional practice centered on the statues themselves makes this an especially distinctive site.
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