Description
These wrathful protectors of Buddhism would have once stood within the sides of the main entrance gate to a temple. One has an open mouth that intones the sound ah, and symbolizes the beginning, or life.One has a closed mouth that intones the sound un, and symbolizes the end, or death.
Provenance
Buddhist temple in Shiga Prefecture, Japan; (Yanagi Fine Art Shop, Kyoto, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1972); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1972–)
Accession Number
1972.158
Medium
Chestnut and cypress wood
Dimensions
Overall: 167.9 cm (66 1/8 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
