Jizō in Action: The Role of Jizō Statues in Temple Atmosphere, Seen through the Eyes of Sendai Temple Abbots

Abstract

This article shows how abbots at four Buddhist temples in Japan interpret the image and role of the Bodhisattva Jizō – the most popular folk deity in Japan. Statues of Jizō can be found in almost every Japanese Buddhist temple, but their roles differ significantly due to the folk character of this Bodhisattva and the wide range of its functions. Jizō was granted the role of universal saviour in Japanese folk religion, with more and more functions added throughout the centuries. The author attempts to show that abbots see Jizō statues very differently, and that sometimes the Jizō statues of one temple can be interpreted differently by the abbots of different temples.