The two "Guardian Kings" (Niō 仁王), "Lightning bearers" (vajrapāṇi), Agyō and Ungyō are represented standing on a rocky base. The plastic pose, the musculature and the concentrated face characterize these protective figures of Buddhism.
They were probably made as models for larger sculptures: the Niō statues are in fact placed at the entrance of Buddhist temples, to protect the faithful and the Temple space, and can reach 8 metres in height. These models are made with the Yosegi zukuri technique, "structure of assembled wooden pieces".