This Great South Gate was completed in 1203. It was built according to the Chinese Song dynasty style. It is easy to differentiate a temple from a shrine in Japan because temples have gates whereas shrines have torii.
The Japanese temples have two Guardians of Buddha (commonly known as Nio) at the entrance gates. They are there to protect the temples from evil spirits. Do not confuse them with the Four Heavenly Kings of the Chinese temples. One Guardian has his mouth open and the other closed. They represent life and death, the beginning and the end. The most famous Guardians in Japan are here. Both are 26 feet tall and made in 1203.
Mouth opened
Mouth closed
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