En no Gyōja and Zenki & Goki
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役行者と前鬼・後鬼

En no Gyōja and Zenki & Goki

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A statue depicting En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, in the center, attended by his followers Zao Gongen and Kongo Zao, symbolizing mountain faith worship.

Seated at the center is En no Gyōja (also known as En no Ozunu), credited as the founder of Shugendō, a spiritual tradition that fuses Japan's ancient mountain worship with Buddhism. He holds a shakujō, or ceremonial staff, the symbol of Shugendō practitioners. Flanking him on either side are a married couple of demons, Zenki and Goki, said to have served En no Gyōja. Though originally demons who preyed upon humans, they were transformed through the spiritual power of En no Gyōja, after which they became his devoted and faithful attendants, as the legend tells.

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