National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　Kongou, as well as the Rikishi mentioned later, is generically called Niou; guardian of temple gates), referring to a powerful brave man. It has a fierce face with intense eyes, thick blood vessels standing out on its forehead and an aggressive square chin. This mask, even the hair on its head, is made of a length of timber from a camphor tree. The small holes dotted around its mouth and on its chin are marks from where hair was implanted.