Guardians at Sekizan Zen-in

Notice this one is closer to the entrance to the hall than many others

This is one of the paired guardians at one of the halls located on the premises of the temple. They were made of wood if my memory serves right. If so, this is an older style. Once these lion-like aminals were inside the room, holding the lower end of a kind of curtains on the floor. These imaginary guardians retain the original style more than many others sitting completely outside. Commonly, one of the pair has a mouth open and the other closed, but this pair both opens the mouth like howling lions. Cute with a close look at them!