Treasure House, Nikko / Nio, Nikko

Kimbei Kusakabe

From an albumen of photographic prints of Nikko, Japan. Photographed and hand-colored by Kusakabe, they were originally compiled in an accordian style with a laquered, decorated case and sold to Western tourists as keepsakes of their travels.

The two photographs here are of the Shihonryugi Temple in Nikko, Japan. One is the outside of the temple with its elaborate decoration; the other is of one of the carved Nio, a pair of Benevolent King guardians of Nikko - specifically, Ungyo. From the Nikko city website: "Originally known as Shihonryuji Temple, Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple was founded 1,200 years ago by Buddhist monk Shodo, who served as the first head priest of Nikko. Sanbutsudo Hall, the temple’s main building, is one of the largest wooden structures in Nikko, and houses eight-meter-tall gold statues of the Thousand-armed Buddha of Mt. Nantai, the Amida Buddha of Mt. Nyoho and the Horse-headed Buddha of Mt. Taro. Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple also includes a treasure house with National Treasure sutras and Buddha statues, as well as the Japanese garden Shoyoen, featuring a placid pond."