Text by Alex
In the streets of Japan, rural roadsides, temples, and shrines, you’ll often see adorable statues of bodhisattvas wearing red scarves and covered in moss—these are Jizo Bosatsu. In fact, Japanese people don’t refer to Jizo as a bodhisattva in a formal sense, but affectionately call them “Jizō-san” or “Jizō-sama,” as if they were friends. They believe that Jizo is a guardian deity nearby, and people pray to him for all kinds of wishes. In this way, Jizo’s role is more similar to that of China’s folk deity Tudigong—he takes care of everything and grants requests.
▲ Kyoto Shisendo (photo by hmasatoh @IG)
Japanese Jizo Bosatsu blends elements of Buddhism and Shintoism and takes on multiple forms, such as the “Child-Rearing Jizo” who protects children’s safety and health, and the “Good Match Jizo” at Kamakura’s Hase-dera Temple, which is prayed to for love and marriage. The designs of Jizo statues are usually more lively and cute, varying in size and form, quite different from the solemn and mysterious deities enshrined in temples. Moreover, Japanese people have the custom of sprinkling water on the statues as an offering, so over the years, moss often grows on the Jizo statues.
▲ Kyoto Enkaku-ji (photo by rinrin7281 @IG)
In some rural areas of Japan, Jizo also takes on the role of a child-giving deity like Guanyin, and is regarded as the guardian of stillborn babies or children who passed away young. Parents dress the statues like little angels and offer them food and toys, both to help these children transition to the afterlife and to find solace for the grief of losing them too soon. Therefore, when you see Jizo statues that look like dolls, be mindful of your behavior and respect others’ beliefs.
▲ Kyoto Enkaku-ji (photo by oyabun1gou @IG)
▲ Kyoto Enkaku-ji (photo by oyabun1gou @IG)
▲ Kyoto Ohara Hosshin-ji (photo by oyabun1gou @IG)
▲ Kyoto Gyokuran Hosshin-ji (photo by oyabun1gou @IG)
▲ Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture (photo by walk.aw @IG)
▲ Hase-dera Temple, Kamakura City (photo by midor1_22 @IG)
▲ Kitaura Unsho-ji Temple, Akita Prefecture (photo by 1101sai @IG)
▲ Hakusan-ji Temple, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture (photo by nagomi_hanatsuka @IG)
▲ Fukuhara City, Fukuoka Prefecture (photo by _harumania_ @IG)
▲ Uji Shoshuin, Kyoto (photo by takedarts @IG)
▲ Hakusan-ji Temple, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture (photo by nagomi_hanatsuka @IG)
▲ Hakusan-ji Temple, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture (photo by totokurin @IG)
Source: Let's Go Japan, Japan Information