Dai-Tengu Zenkibō 前鬼坊

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Zenkibō is a dai-tengu guardian who watches over the Ominesanjo in the Omine mountains. In his right hand, he holds a tied peacock feather that's connected to the Kujaku Myoo’ sutra. Crafted using an ancient "lost foam method" and made from copper alloy 500 years ago, this statue is now enshrined at the Kizoin temple in Yoshino, where it's available for people to pray. According to legend, Zenkibō flew down from Sanjogatake to land in the pond of Kizoin Temple in Yoshino, and he's been worshiped there ever since. In reality, it was the yamabushi of the Honzan-ha who chose to bring this statue down so they could worship it at Yoshino and also at the Omine-sanji monastery. The accessories Zenkibō wears - Bonten-kesa / Fudo-kesa and a metallic bar that holds up his front flaps - clearly show he's associated with the Honzan-shugen sect.