Jizo Figures at Zojo-ji

By Tokyo.japantimes, March 5, 2010

When a baby is stillborn in Japan, it’s supposedly common practice to have a ceremony called “Mizuko kuyō”. The statues in these photographs are representative of the Buddhist diety “Jizō”, often seen as the guardian of children and travelers.

The statues are used by parents of stillborn children and dedicated to the spirit of the child. As a result, most of them are dressed up in some type of children’s clothing, and laden with toys and trinkets.

 

 

Even without knowing the background, it’s still a little bit spooky to see
all of these statues lined up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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