Ishiteji Temple
Main Image Wooden Kongo Rikishi Guardian Statues (Agyo and Ungyo) Category Tenbu (Deva)
Impression TagsPowerDignityTense Presence
DescriptionAt Ishiteji, Temple No. 51 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, two wooden Kongo Rikishi guardians, Agyo and Ungyo, stand in the National Treasure Nio Gate. Agyo is 256.6 cm tall and Ungyo 249.3 cm; both are assembled from Japanese cypress wood. Their realistic musculature and dynamic poses reflect the powerful style of the Unkei school in the Kamakura period. Historical records of Edo-period repairs note that a paper dated 1240 was found inside the Ungyo figure, suggesting that the statues were made around that time. The pair was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2022. The gate is traditionally dated to 1318, and the figures can be viewed from the approach.
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