Jizō

Jizō
In Japan, Kṣitigarbha, known as Jizō, or respectfully as Ojizō-sama, is one of the most loved of all Japanese divinities. His statues are a common sight, especially by roadsides and in graveyards. Traditionally, he is seen as the guardian of children, and in particular, children who died before their parents. He has been worshipped as the guardian of the souls of mizuko, the souls of stillborn, miscarried, or aborted fetuses in the ritual of mizuko kuyō (水子供養 "offering to water children"). In Japanese mythology, it is said that the souls of children who die before their parents are unable to cross the mythical Sanzu River on their way to the afterlife because they have not had the chance to accumulate enough good deeds and because they have made the parents suffer. It is believed that Jizō saves these souls from having to pile stones eternally on the bank of the river as penance, by hiding them from demons in his robe, and letting them hear mantras. Jizō statues are sometimes accompanied by a little pile of stones and pebbles, put there by people in the hope that it would shorten the time children have to suffer in the underworld. (The act is derived from the tradition of building stupas as an act of merit-making.) The statues can often be seen wearing tiny children's clothing or bibs, or with toys, put there by grieving parents to help their lost ones and hoping that Jizō would specially protect them. Sometimes the offerings are put there by parents to thank Jizō for saving their children from a serious illness. His features are commonly made more baby-like to resemble the children he protects.

Yamadera

Yamadera
on a hot and hazy 32C Summer day...

More Green Peace

More Green Peace
Fujita Memorial Garden, Hirosaki

Full Moon Rising

Full Moon Rising

Sunset Fly By

Sunset Fly By

Silent Night

Silent Night

Towering Clouds

Towering Clouds

On The Shore

On The Shore

Summer Fall

Summer Fall
Hirosaki-jō gardens, Aomori prefecture

Demons and Wizards

Demons and Wizards
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aomori_Nebuta_Matsuri

Shadows and Light XVI

Shadows and Light XVI
雪の美術館 - Hirafuku Memorial Art Museum, Kakunodate

烏城 Karasu-jō

烏城 Karasu-jō
Matsumoto Castle - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsumoto_Castle

Back On The Wild Coast

Back On The Wild Coast

Oh, Vienna

Oh, Vienna
Upper Belvedere, Vienna - www.wikiwand.com/en/Belvedere,_Vienna Vienna: Ultravox - www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJeWySiuq1I

Tabarnak

Tabarnak
Cirque Alfonse at the Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh Vista

Edinburgh Vista
View over Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth from the Pentland Hills