Japanese Niō gilded mask - Ungyo the contained force - KONGO RIKISHI

Japanese Niō gilded mask - Ungyo the contained force - KONGO RIKISHI

The Niō also called Kongō-rikishi are two Japanese guardian deities of the temples in Japan. They are installed on each side of a main entrance preventing demons or evil spirits from entering the premises.

Naraen Kongō (那 羅 延 金剛), also called Ungyō (吽 形) "who forms the One" (Um), with his mouth closed, is portrayed as having empty hands or wielding a sword.
It symbolizes the latent force, keeping the teeth clenched. His closed mouth is depicted as having the necessary form to emit the One sound, which corresponds to his other name of Ungyō.