The Importance of Jizo and Jizo Statues to the Japanese People

In Buddhism, people who attain a certain level of compassion and Buddhahood are referred to as Bodhisattvas. The goal of these Buddhist practitioners who are just a few steps away from reaching enlightenment is to help and guide other people towards Buddhahood.

Different countries that follow the doctrines of Buddha each has a list of revered Bodhisattvas. Interestingly, these lists mostly consist of the same Bodhisattvas, just under different names.

Ksitigarbha, for example, is a Bodhisattva particularly popular in East Asian countries but is rarely called by the corresponding communities by that name. For Japan, he is referred to as Jizo, the protector of women, children, and travelers.

About Jizo

Jizo, or formally known as Ojizo-sama or Jizo Bosatsu, is among the most beloved Japanese Buddhist deities, if not the most. His name, which uses the terms Ji (Earth) and Zo (Womb) is often interpreted as “The Womb of the Earth”. From another perspective, Jizo may also be translated to mean “The Store House of Earth”, “The Treasury of Earth”, or “The Matrix of Earth”.

He is the only Bodhisattva that is often portrayed as a Buddhist monk with no extravagant garments, accessories, or items. Instead, Jizo is represented in different mediums as a friendly-faced monk with a shaven head, incredibly simple clothing, a long staff in one hand, and a jewel in the other.

Jizo’s Promise

As previously mentioned, Bodhisattvas are dedicated practitioners of Buddhism who choose to postpone or renounce their fate of achieving enlightenment to remain on earth and go through a cycle of reincarnations (usually a person but may be an animal or thing), all for the purpose of helping other people reach Nirvana.

Jizo’s promise is no different, in such a way that he vowed to continue his life doing good deeds and guiding those trapped in endless suffering out from the darkness and towards their salvation. He primarily helps those under the trial of the Ten Kings of Hell.

In Japanese Buddhism, there is a story that talks about a purgatory known as Sai No Kawara. Here, the souls of unborn babies and deceased children are punished for bringing their parents pain and sorrow. These souls are put under the judgment of the Ten Kings of Hell and incessantly pray for a way out of their suffering.

Jizo looks after these souls by immediately hiding them in his robe’s sleeves before the demons find them and take them to the Sai No Kawara. As such, a lot of members of the Japanese community have gotten into the habit of offering Jizo’s stone statue with clothing and toys to pray for the salvation of their child’s soul.

Furthermore, Buddhist stories encourage the public to continuously honor and appreciate Jizo’s promise to them by stating the following benefits of doing so:

• Divine intervention

• Protection by guardian spirits

• No nightmares

• Safety from fire and flood

• Answered prayer/s

• Longevity

• Rebirth of ancestral spirits in the heavens

• A harmonious life and family

• Fertile lands

• End of bad karma

• Growth towards enlightenment

• Protection by all Buddhas

• A significantly stronger will to only do what is right and good

• Ability to keep memories from previous lives

• Enlightenment

Dressing Japanese Jizo Statues

Obviously, Jizo is depicted to be a deity with a kind and helpful heart. As such, it is not surprising that the Japanese community treats statues of him with extra care and attention.

The usual Jizo statues located at Buddhist temples in Japan portray the Bodhisattva as a small, friendly monk in a standing, praying position. A lot of these statues can be seen with red knitted clothing on or children’s toys placed nearby. The clothes are meant to keep Jizo safe from the different elements, while the toys simply serve as gifts for Jizo.

These items are mostly given by parents and women who want to request Jizo to take care of their children’s souls or bless them with an easy childbirth/pregnancy. Flowers, stuffed animals, and jewelry are also common offerings left near the Jizo statues.

Popular places where tourists can see plenty of Jizo statues that come alive with the presence of toys, clothing, and other things include the Hase Shrine of Kamakura, the Zojo Temple of Tokyo, and the Mount Takao trails located just outside the borders of Tokyo. A day trip to these places during the months of June, July, and August is ideal.

The Different Types and Roles of Jizo

Although primarily known for being a guardian of stillborn, aborted, miscarried, and unborn babies, Jizo also appears as other versions of himself, all of which are aimed towards helping the living and the dead suffer less.

• Aburakake Jizō (油懸地蔵) – which refers to the greasy or oil-covered version of Jizo

• Agonashi Jizō (腮無地蔵) – which refers to the jawless Jizō who heals toothaches

• Ajimi Jizō (嘗試地蔵) – which refers to the food-tasting version of Jizo

• Amagoi Jizō (雨乞い地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who can beg the skies to make it rain

• Ama Koi Jizō (雨恋地蔵) – which refers to the rain-loving version of Jizo who many farmers turn to for their agricultural needs

• Anzan Jizō (安産地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who grants safe childbirth and easy delivery

• Asekaki Jizō (汗かき地蔵) – which refers to a sweaty version of Jizō who can foresee the future based on the color of his sweat.

• Botamochi Jizō (ぼた餅地蔵) – which refers to the rice-ball loving version of Jizō.

• Chūji Jizō (忠治地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of curing palsy

• Daigan Jizō (大願地藏菩萨) – which refers to a version of Jizo who made a great promise to the public

• Danda Jizō (檀陀地蔵) – which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara in charge of assisting spirits

• Doroashi Jizō (泥足地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo with muddy feet

• Enmei Jizō (延命地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who blesses people with longevity

• Hadaka Jizō (裸地蔵) – which refers to a naked version of Jizo

• Hanakake Jizō (鼻欠け地蔵) – which refers to a noseless version of Jizo

• Hara-Obi Jizō (腹帯地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo with a belly girdle that grants easy childbirth

• Hibō Jizō (被帽地蔵) – which refers to a hatted version of Jizo

• Hifuse Jizō (火伏地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of controlling fire

• Higiri Jizō (日限地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of controlling time

• Hitaki Jizō (火焚地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of controlling fire

• Hōju Jizō (宝珠地蔵) – which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the realm of hungry ghosts.

• Hōin Jizō (宝印地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the realm of animals

• Hōkō-ō Jizō (放光王地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the Deva Realm

• Hōroku Jizō (ほうろく地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo that can cure ailments related to the head

• Hōshō Jizō (宝掌地蔵) – which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the realm of hungry ghosts.

• Hōyake Jizō (頬焼地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizō with burnt cheeks

• Jiji Jizō (持地地蔵) – which refers to which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the Asura Realm

• Jogaishō Jizō (除蓋障地蔵) or Yotenga Jizō (預天賀地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the human realm

• Kamihari Jizō (紙張地蔵) – which refers to a paper-pasted version of Jizō

• Karate Jizō (空手地蔵) – which refers to an empty-handed version of Jizō

• Kenko-i Jizō (堅固意地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the Deva Realm

• Kinomoto Jizō (木之本地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of healing eye diseases

• Kongōgan Jizō (金剛願地蔵) – which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara in charge of assisting spirits

• Kongōhi Jizō (金剛悲地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the realm of animals

• Kongōhō Jizō (金剛宝地蔵) – which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the realm of hungry ghosts.

• Kongōtō Jizō (金剛幢地蔵) – which refers to which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the Asura Realm

• Kosodate Jizō (子育て地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo dedicated to all things related to raising a child

• Koyasu Jizō (子安地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who grants easy childbirth and pregnancy

• Kuro Jizō (黒地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of controlling fire

• Michibiki Jizō. (導き地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who primarily guides people towards enlightenment

• Migawari Jizō (身代わり地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who substitutes for the one who suffers

• Miso Jizō (みそ地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo associated with bean paste

• Misoname Jizō (みそなめ地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo associated with miso

• Mizuko Jizō (水子地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who serves as the guardian of aborted children

• Nikkō Jizō (日光地蔵) - which refers to one of the six Jizo versions in Sai no Kawara, particularly in the Deva Realm

• Omokaru Jizō (おもかる地蔵尊) – which refers to a version of Jizo who practices the balance of heavy and light

• Onegai Jizō (お願い地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who grants wishes

• Sakasa Jizō (さかさ地蔵) – which refers to an upside-down version of Jizō

• Sentai Jizō (千躰地蔵) – which refers to a 1,000-figure or Kannon-like version of Jizo

• Sekidome Jizō (咳止地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo capable of ending coughs

• Shibarare Jizō (縛られ地蔵) – which refers to a string-bound version of Jizo

• Shinpei Jizō (心平地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo in charge of pacifying the souls of executed people

• Shōgun Jizō (勝軍地蔵) – which refers to a victorious version of Jizo who protects soldiers during war

• Tawashi Jizō (束子地蔵) – which refers to a kitchen version of  Jizō

• Togenuki Jizō (刺抜地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who removes splinters

• Tsunbo Jizō (聾地蔵) – which refers to a deaf version of Jizo

• Uba Jizō (姥地蔵) – which refers to an old woman version of Jizo

• Wheel Jizō (地蔵車) – which refers to a version of Jizo who makes use of a wheel to bless one’s present life and afterlife with some sort of item

• Yata Jizō (矢田地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo who has a jewel in one hand and has the semui-in mudra on display on the other

• Yahiroi Jizō (矢拾い地蔵) – which refers to a version of Jizo in charge of gathering arrow and protecting everybody in the battle field

• Women and Pregnancy – Jizo appears in a different form depending on the pregnancy concerns of women

• Peasants and Farmers – Jizo appears in many different versions of himself when it comes to the suffering of peasants and farmers