jizo statue surrounded by red maple leaves
at the Eigenji Temple in Daigo, Ibaraki, Japan for Travel Tuesday!
"The Roles of Jizo:
The Jizo Bodhisattva, “O-Jizo-san” in the Japanese honorific language, is a deity fondly loved by Japanese people. You will find Jizo statues in many places: in Buddhist temples, graveyards, at the side of the road in the countryside, and, less commonly, at the corner of some streets in the cities.
The primary role of Jizo is to protect children. This explains why, in Studio Ghibli’s animation movie “My Neighbor Totoro,” when little Mei gets lost, she finds refuge next to Jizo statues.
Jizo also protects the souls of children who passed away and unborn babies. In Japanese beliefs, it is thought that the soul of children who died before their parents, consequently making their parents suffer, cannot cross the river to the afterlife. They remain on the side of the river, having to pile stones as an act of penance. Devils come to try to destroy these stone towers, and this is when O-Jizo-san appears to save them and hide them in his clothing from the evil spirits. He then looks after them as a guardian in replacement of their parents."
jizo statue surrounded by red maple leaves
at the Eigenji Temple in Daigo, Ibaraki, Japan for Travel Tuesday!
"The Roles of Jizo:
The Jizo Bodhisattva, “O-Jizo-san” in the Japanese honorific language, is a deity fondly loved by Japanese people. You will find Jizo statues in many places: in Buddhist temples, graveyards, at the side of the road in the countryside, and, less commonly, at the corner of some streets in the cities.
The primary role of Jizo is to protect children. This explains why, in Studio Ghibli’s animation movie “My Neighbor Totoro,” when little Mei gets lost, she finds refuge next to Jizo statues.
Jizo also protects the souls of children who passed away and unborn babies. In Japanese beliefs, it is thought that the soul of children who died before their parents, consequently making their parents suffer, cannot cross the river to the afterlife. They remain on the side of the river, having to pile stones as an act of penance. Devils come to try to destroy these stone towers, and this is when O-Jizo-san appears to save them and hide them in his clothing from the evil spirits. He then looks after them as a guardian in replacement of their parents."