Jizo - Jizo

Japanese: 地蔵 - じぞう

One of the Buddhist bodhisattvas. Abbreviation of Jizo Bodhisattva. After the death of Shakyamuni, Jizo stayed in this world to save all living beings until the appearance of Maitreya, and is also said to be the savior of the underworld. In China, from the Tang Dynasty, and in Japan, from the Heian Period, the belief in Jizo became popular, and many statues of monks were made. It is common for Jizo to hold a shakujo (a staff) in his right hand and a jewel in his left hand. From the belief in Jizo (Rokujizo) as the guardian of the Rokudo (six paths), Jizo became combined with the belief in roadside gods and the belief in Koshin, and was widely worshiped by the people alongside Kannon. It was also believed to protect children from misfortune, giving rise to the legend of Sai no Kawara. From the Kamakura to Edo Periods, Jizo was syncretized with various folk tales, and various names were given to Jizo, such as Enmei Jizo, Koyasu Jizo, and Shogun Jizo. Many regions hold Jizo-ko on the 24th of each month.
→ Related topics Enma｜Kannon｜Jizo Bodhisattva Miracles Picture

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

仏教の菩薩(ぼさつ)の一つ。地蔵菩薩の略。釈迦入滅後，弥勒(みろく)が出現するまでの間，現世にとどまって衆生を救い，また冥府の救済者とされる。中国では唐代から，日本では平安時代から，その信仰が盛んとなり，僧形の像が多く作られた。右手に錫杖(しゃくじょう)，左手に宝珠を持つのが普通。六道(ろくどう)を守護する地蔵（六地蔵）の信仰から，道祖神，庚申信仰などと結合し，民間に観音と並んで広く信仰された。また，子どもの災厄を守護するとも信じられ，賽(さい)の河原の説話などを生んだ。鎌倉〜江戸時代には種々の民間説話と習合して，延命地蔵，子安地蔵，勝軍地蔵などさまざまの名を冠した地蔵が生まれた。毎月24日に地蔵講をする地方は多い。
→関連項目閻魔｜観音｜地蔵菩薩霊験記絵

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