WASHINGTON DC, United States — A wooden Japanese guardian figure (oni) from a temple complex demonstrates traditional religious sculptural arts. The carved wooden guardian represents protective deities that traditionally stood watch at temple entrances. This imposing figure exemplifies Japanese religious sculptural traditions.
Photograph by David Coleman. Temple guardian figures played an essential role in Japanese Buddhist architecture, serving both devotional and protective functions. These fierce-looking guardians, carved from wood with exceptional craftsmanship, were traditionally placed at temple entrances to ward off evil spirits and protect sacred spaces. The sculptural technique demonstrates the Japanese mastery of wood carving, with attention to detailed facial expressions, muscular definition, and dramatic poses typical of guardian figures. The use of wood as a medium reflects Japanese artistic traditions, where sculptors worked with natural materials to create enduring religious art. These guardian figures, drawing from both Buddhist iconography and Japanese folk traditions, embody the synthesis of religious and artistic elements in Japanese temple architecture. The expressive features and imposing presence of the guardian figure exemplify the powerful role these sculptures played in traditional Japanese religious practice.
Size: 8256px × 5504px
Location: National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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