Niōmon

A niōmon

The niōmon (仁王門, lit. Niō gate) is the Japanese name of a Buddhist temple gate guarded by two wooden warriors called Niō (lit. Two Kings). The gate is called Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将) in China and Geumgangmun (金剛門) in Korea. The two statues are inside the two posts of the gate itself, one at the left, one at the right. Structurally, it usually is either a rōmon or a nijūmon and can measure either 5x2 or 3x2 bays.^[1] It can sometimes have just one story, as in the case of Asakusa's Kaminarimon.

In a five-bay gate, the figures of the two Niō are usually enshrined in the two outer bays, but can be sometimes found also in the inner ones.^[1] The statue on the right is called Naraen Kongō (那羅延金剛) and has his mouth open to utter the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, which is pronounced "a". The left statue is called Misshaku Kongō (密迹金剛) and has his mouth closed, representing the last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, pronounced "um". These two letters (a-un in Japanese) together symbolize the birth and death of all things.^[2]

The two Niō
Naraen Kongō  Misshaku Kongō

Notes

1. 1 2 "Nioumon". JAANUS. Retrieved 27 August 2010. 
2. ↑ Parent, Mary Neighbour. Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. A-un, retrieved on 9-28-10

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Niōmon.

Elements of Japanese architecture
Styles	Buddhist Buke Daibutsuyō Gassho Giyōfū Hachiman Hirairi Hiyoshi (Hie) Irimoya Ishi-no-ma Kasuga Kibitsu Nagare Ōbaku Zen Setchūyō Shinden Shinmei Shinto Shoin Sukiya Sumiyoshi Taisha Wayō Zenshūyō	Model of Himeji Castle
Types of building	Butsuden Castle Chashitsu Dō Haiden Heiden Hokora Hōkyōintō Kura Kyōzō Machiya Main Hall Minka Setsumatsusha Shōrō Tahōtō Japanese pagoda Yagura
Roof styles	Hidden Irimoya Karahafu
Structural	Burdock piling Chigi Disordered piling Engawa Fusuma Hisashi Irimoya-zukuri Irori Jinmaku Katōmado Katsuogi Kuruwa Mokoshi Moya Nakazonae Namako wall Nightingale floor Onigawara Ranma Shōji (washi) Sōrin Tamagaki Tatami Tokonoma Tokyō Tsumairi Shibi
Gates Approaches	Genkan Kairō Karamon Mon Nijūmon Niōmon Rōmon Sandō Sanmon Sōmon Torii (Mihashira)
Rooms	Chashitsu Daidokoro Mizuya Shoin Toilets Washitsu
Furnishings	Butsudan Byōbu Chabudai Emakimono Furo Futon Getabako Kaidan dansu Kamado Kamidana Kichō Kotatsu Misu Noren Sudare Tamaya Tansu Zabuton Zafu
Outdoor objects	Chōzuya (Temizuya) Ishigantō Komainu Tōrō
Measurements	Ken Koku Ri Shaku Sun
Organizations	Architectural Institute of Japan Japan Institute of Architects Metabolist Movement
Related topics	Groups of Traditional Buildings Iki Japanese garden (rock (Zen)) Ryokan Sentō Wabi-sabi Yabo National Treasures Castles Residences Shrines Temples Other structures