Temple Guardians
When a nio isn’t providing a temple with quite enough protection, it’s time to call for some feline assistance.
This ungyo (吽形) guardian can be found at Saifukuji (最福寺, a.k.a. Enoshima Daishi or 江ノ島大師) on Enoshima. I’m not sure if you will find the cat here or not, although you are almost sure to see some wandering the island.
January 16th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Awesome. 🙂
It’s the first time I see a Nio, not in a gate (but then again, I haven’t seen all temples). Is that “normal”?
January 16th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
It’s more common to see them in the gate, but I have seen them without a gate on several occasions. Here is another one: http://traveljapanblog.com/wordpress/2009/08/friends-in-the-neighborhood/
January 17th, 2011 at 2:36 am
Nice and funny picture 🙂
I wonder if I am not more afraid of the cat than of the nio!