Japanese Carved Wooden Guardian Nio Agyou Mask Vtg Buddhism Todaiji Temple OM68 Inuyama [head only] 7

[head only] 7

This is a ceramic Japanese sake bottle

they are also widely used for a plethora of other traditional Japanese crafts

The flower crest in the center was used as the crest of the Korean National Assembly from 1948-2014

Blue printing residue on back side

Japanese Carved Wooden Guardian Nio Agyou Mask Vtg Buddhism Todaiji Temple OM68 Inuyama [head only] 7Vtg Japanese Wooden Nio Guardian Mask This is a Japanese hand carved wooden mask of one of the Nio guardians, Agyou. It is stained with a matte dark brown finish and has two metal loops on the inside back to attack hanging string or wire. Often seen at the gates of prominent Buddhist temples across Japan, the Nio Pair or Nio Kings embody physical force to keep evil and discord from entering. This mask is of Agyou, the open mouthed guardian. Most