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Images of the Nioh, which are 4m high, are put on the side of the
Omotemon. Therefore, the Omotemon used to be called Nioh-mon Gate.
The Nioh is a pair of Deva Kings, and is guardian of Buddhism.
The Nioh was relocated to Taiyuin Mausoleum by the law of Meiji
government. The name of the gate became Omotemon (Front gate) since
then. The Nioh came back to the original place in 1897.
Images of Karajishi (Chinese
lion) and tapir are put on the side of the gate. Also, 82 sculptures
including giraffes and tigers, face the passage. The second tiger
from the right, has a different bodily pattern from other. It is
not stripe, but circle like a leopard. The leopard was considered
to be a female tiger in Edo period.
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