Kumadaniji Temple
Main Image Standing Kongo Rikishi Guardians (Agyo and Ungyo) Category Tenbu (Deva)
Impression TagsPowerDignityTense Presence
DescriptionA pair of Kongo Rikishi guardian statues, Agyo and Ungyo, stand on opposite sides of the Niomon Gate at the entrance to Kumadaniji, Temple No. 8 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Their fierce expressions and forceful poses greet visitors, and traces of their former coloring remain. Built in 1687, the approximately 13-meter-high and 9-meter-wide gate is among the largest wooden Niomon gates on the pilgrimage and is a Tangible Cultural Property designated by Tokushima Prefecture. Temple legend says the guardian statues once returned on their own overnight after an attempt was made to move them to another temple. The statues stand inside the gate at the beginning of the approach, apart from the main temple buildings, where visitors can view them at close range.
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