Final answer:
The Nio Guardian Statues at Todai-ji in Nara, Japan, are protective figures meant to guard the Great Buddha and the temple against evil spirits, thereby ensuring the sanctity of the sacred space.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nio Guardian Statues at Todai-ji in Nara, Japan, serve a protective role. These statues are known to guard the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) and the temple from evil spirits and influences. In the context of Buddhist iconography and Japanese temple architecture, such figures often symbolize the protection of the sacred space within the temple precincts, acting as guardians against malign forces. Given that the Great Buddha fills almost the entire temple with its immense presence, measuring fifteen meters in height even in sitting position, the role of the Nio Guardians is critical in maintaining the sanctity and integrity of this hallowed space.
Additionally, surrounding important Shinto deities, as well as the main Buddha statue, with such guardians aligns religiously and politically with the demonstration of power and wealth during the period when the Tōdaiji was constructed. The temples and statues built at that time, such as the Tongil Daebul and the Buddha statues gilded in gold, were not only spiritual landmarks but also reflections of the ruling monarch's power and control. The Nio Guardian Statues are thus significant not just religiously, but also in the context of historical statecraft.