Photoessay #1098 - Japan - Jizo Bibs

Back to Japan in April, still many interesting images.

This hillside covered with jizu statues is right downhill from the huge Kiyomizu-Dera temple complex in Kyoto. Thousands of high schoolers in their dark uniforms visited when we were there. An ancient temple, established in 780 at the sight of a waterfall. I see now that we missed the whole waterfall thing. See, we needed our guide earlier!

We went off the beaten track a bit where we ran into a quiet corner and a hillside covered with statues. Statues of Jizo, a monk, the patron of children, especially of children who die before their parents. Nobuko said that couples who have had miscarriages come and place bibs on these statues. Elsewhere, I read that parents will put a bib on one of these statues in gratitude to Jizo for watching over their children in the afterlife. Specifically Jizo helps the children's spirit cross the river Sanzu into the afterlife which they are unable to do themselves.

I couldn't tell if these bibs had been put there recently. Clearly these statues have been on this hill for a very long time.

Rather sobering to see yet we could hear the high school students calling out and enjoying their field trip just a short distance up the hill.