Kyoto Adashino Nenbutsu-ji 3 of 4

Bamboo forest to the "six-sided, six-bodies of jizo"

Justin Velgus Oct 22, 2015 - 2 min read

<p>The "six-sided, six-bodies of jizo"</p>

<p>Tiryagyoni-gati, jizo of the realm of animals</p>

<p>Manusya-gati, jizo of the realm of humans</p>

<p>Deva-gati, jizo of the realm of deities</p>

<p>Asura-gati, jizo of the realm of titans</p>

<p>Naraka-gati, jizo of the realm of Hell</p>

<p>Preta-gati, jizo of the realm of hungry ghosts</p>

<p>The "six-sided, six-bodies of jizo" stand silently on a quiet hill</p>

Continued from part 2.

Off to the side of the area where mizuko (water children) jizo statues are, up a steep hill surrounded by a bamboo forest rests the "six-sided, six-bodies of jizo" monument. This jizo is new, but considering that Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple is filled with so many stone Buddhist statues, its unique shape and quiet location make it a perfect place to pray.

Jizo statues are the most familiar Buddhist statues as they gather around where humans perform their daily routines. In Buddhism, it is thought that someone that is lost will be forever trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. That person is said to live in a world with six realms. Entering this cycle after death does not take place on our physical Earth, but rather as a state of mind. In brief, each jizo rescues a lost soul through one of the a corresponding realms: deities, titans, hungry ghosts, Hell, animals, and humans. In order to wash away sins, pilgrims pour water over the statue.

Click here for part 4.

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Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティンベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region. Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...