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National Treasure Hall

Statues of Kongo Rikishi

National Treasures

The Kongo Rikishi are mythological Buddhist warriors wielding Indian vajra weapons symbolizing thunderbolts and diamonds. Dating to the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and created by a sculptor of the Kei school, they are masterpieces of the realism, dramatic movement, and power that are hallmarks of twelfth- and thirteenth-century Japanese Buddhist sculpture. Inlaid crystal eyes, wind-whipped robes, bulging muscles, and protruding veins all reinforce their lifelike appearance.

The statue on the left has its mouth wide open to symbolize the sound a, the sound of the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, and, philosophically, the realm of the absolute. The right-hand statue has its mouth tightly closed to symbolize the sound hūṃ, the sound of the final letter of the alphabet and the realm of phenomena. Together, these symbolize the beginning and the end of all things, or in essence the entire universe.

Kongo Rikishi are most commonly seen as guardian figures at Buddhist temple gates, but during the Nara period (710–794) they were also installed on central altars in temple halls. This pair of statues, carved from joined wood blocks, was originally enshrined in Kofukuji’s Western Golden Hall, and was carved as a replacement for a Nara-period pair of sculptures that was lost when the hall burned down in 1180.

國寶館

木造金剛力士立像

國寶

金剛力士是佛教傳說中的護法侍衛，以象征雷電霹靂與無堅不摧的古印度金剛杵為武器。這對立像出自鐮倉時代（1185-1333）早期慶派造像師之手，極富12至13世紀日本佛像造像標誌性的逼真感、動態感與力量感，堪稱傑作。水晶製作的雙眼、隨風擺動的衣袍、僨張的肌肉、虬結的青筋，無不令力士像的面貌更加栩栩如生。

左側力士的嘴大張著，表示發出「阿」（a）的聲音，這是梵文字表第一個字母的發音，就哲學層面而言，代表絕對之境。右側力士則雙唇緊閉，表示「吽」（hūṃ），梵文字表最後一個字母的發音，寓意表象之境。兩者並立，代表了萬事萬物的始與終，或者說，囊括了整個宇宙的真諦。

金剛力士多見於佛寺山門處，被視為護法神。但在奈良時期（710-794），它們也會被供奉在佛殿的須彌壇上。原像出自奈良時代，供奉於興福寺西金堂內，但在1180年金堂（大雄寶殿）失火時被焚毀。現存立像為復製品，以多塊木料拼合雕刻而成。

国宝馆

木造金刚力士立像

国宝

金刚力士是佛教传说中的护法侍卫，以象征雷电霹雳与无坚不摧的古印度金刚杵为武器。这对立像出自镰仓时代(1185-1333)早期庆派造像师之手，极富12至13世纪日本佛像造像标志性的逼真感、动态感与力量感，堪称杰作。水晶制作的双眼、随风摆动的衣袍、偾张的肌肉、虬结的青筋，无不令力士像的面貌更加栩栩如生。

左侧力士的嘴大张着，表示发出“阿”(a)的声音，这是梵文字表第一个字母的发音，就哲学层面而言，代表绝对之境。右侧力士则双唇紧闭，表示“吽”(hūṃ)，梵文字表最后一个字母的发音，寓意表象之境。两者并立，代表了万事万物的始与终，或者说，囊括了整个宇宙的真谛。

金刚力士多见于佛寺山门处，被视为护法神。但在奈良时期(710-794)，它们也会被供奉在佛殿的须弥坛上。原像出自奈良时代，供奉于兴福寺西金堂内，但在1180年金堂（大雄宝殿）失火时被焚毁。现存立像为复制品，以多块木料拼合雕刻而成。