Jizo Bodhisattva 観世音寺地蔵菩薩

He is represented here as a priest in simple yet graceful robes, with a halo around his shaved head as is common with most depictions of Jizo found throughout Japan. He is holding a hoju (sacred wish-fulfilling jewel) in his left hand. The hoju represents the Jizo’s desire to bestow blessings on all who suffer. The statue likely dates to the tenth century. It is sculpted from a single block of camphor and is 136 centimeters high.

Jizo Bodhisattva (2 of 2) (Skt: Kṣitigarbha)

This depiction of the Jizo Bodhisattva is sculpted in a seated posture. Jizo Bodhisattva is the protector of children, mothers, and travelers, among others. He is considered the savior of deceased children, including those miscarried, aborted, and stillborn. According to folklore, Jizo Bodhisattva hides the children in his robes to protect them from demons.

Jizo Bodhisattva is typically depicted as a traveling priest, and this sculpture is no exception as can be seen from the shakujo or traditional priests’ staff it holds in its right hand. A priest would use the staff when traveling. The sound of the rings would warn small insects and creatures to move out of harm’s way, ward off dangerous animals, and let villagers know that a priest was approaching. Like the other Jizo Bodhisattva in the collection, this example also bears a hoju (sacred wish-fulfilling jewel) in its left hand. This image of Jizo Bodhisattva is fashioned from wood and stands 123 centimeters high, with a prominent, wide halo. It dates to the eleventh century, in the latter part of the Heian period (794–1185).