A Japan Photo per Day

Nio Guardian

Aug 12, 2010 | 19 feedbacks »

In order to reach the Taiyuin Mausoleum from Nikko, you have to pass through three gates. The first one, called Niomon Gate, is “guarded” by two Nio guardians, the two Deva Kings. One of them is represented with the mouth open, vocalizing “A” - the pronunciation of the first grapheme of Sanskrit Devanāgarī (अ), while the other one is represented with the mouth closed, vocalizing an “U” - the last grapheme (म) is pronounced “hūṃ". Together they symbolize the fact that everything has a beginning and an end.

Here’s a detail with my favorite, Naraen Kongō (or Agyō), the guardian with the open mouth:

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Nio Guardian, Niomon Gate, Taiyuin Mausoleum, Nikko
Nio Guardian, Niomon Gate, Taiyuin Mausoleum, Nikko

Info:

Nikon D300
Lens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5G
Focal Length: 62mm
Aperture: F/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/30s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 400

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Tokyo Tower special lights: Blue Diamond Veil


 
 


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 Muza-chan [Member] Email · http://muza-chan.net
@Samuel:
Your drawing is great! Thank you very much for your kind words! :)
03/22/11 @ 09:52
 Samuel Email · http://type29a.com
Hello,

I wanted to thank you for your photos. I have been following this blog, essentially, from its start. This photo has inspired a print, which I am selling on Etsy with proceeds going to Japan relief efforts.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/type29A

Thank you for your blog.
03/22/11 @ 00:50
 Muza-chan [Member] Email · http://muza-chan.net
@Thomas Gantz:
Thank you :)
08/14/10 @ 12:31
icon purplehayz
tweeted:
A #Japan photo per day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/13/10 @ 22:50
 Thomas Gantz · http://exotic-japan.com
Very nice photo. :-)
08/13/10 @ 18:48
icon Tornadoes28
tweeted:
@Muzachan A very fierce looking guardian.
08/13/10 @ 04:46
icon Tornadoes28
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/13/10 @ 04:45
icon diegomiyabisama
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day: Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 18:30
icon japanobserver
tweeted:
A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 16:00
icon TheMarke
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day: Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 15:23
icon RyukyuMike
tweeted:
A Japan Photo per Day, Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 12:37
icon kun_san
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 11:27
icon yamada25
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian http://bit.ly/9iliHj
08/12/10 @ 10:30
icon 808armada
tweeted:
Great angle shot! I feel him wanting to stomp all over me. lol ^0^ RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 09:52
icon Bpossum
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 09:51
icon wongshiguo
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link]
08/12/10 @ 09:50
icon BlogLinkJapan
tweeted:
A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian: [link] #JBlogs
08/12/10 @ 09:34
icon Sannri
tweeted:
RT @Muzachan: A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian http://bit.ly/9iliHj #Japan
08/12/10 @ 09:34
icon MikuKikuko
tweeted:
[Muza-chan] A Japan Photo per Day - Nio Guardian [link] /via @muzachan
08/12/10 @ 09:12