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

Japanese bronze Niō 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.
It usually stands to the left of the entrance, its color is darker, usually blue or green, sometimes tending to gray

copper colored Niō statue - contained force Kongō-rikishi - UNGYÔ
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. Naraen Kongō is Narayeon geumgang in Korea, Nàluóyán jīngāng in Mandarin Chinese, and Na la diên kim cương in Vietnam Naraen (那 羅 延); the one with the open mouth, therefore illustrates the power expressed while the one who is represented with the closed mouth, Misshaku (密 迹), symbolizes the latent power. It usually stands to the left of the entrance, its color is darker, most often blue or green, sometimes drawing on gray and sometimes sketching very specific gestures: the left arm slightly lowered with the closed fist, the right hand slightly raised, palm open, resting on the right leg when he is not holding arms. If not, he holds a club in the left hand lowered and raises the right hand palm open, the index finger touching the thumb.