14th April – 卯月
Have you ever seen the stone-made statues on the streets in Japan?
The official name of this statues is 地蔵菩薩 (Jizou bosatsu), but called in a cuter way like お地蔵さん (Ojizousan) / 地蔵様 (Ojizousama). Ojizousan are located various places and believed to protect people, share the grief with people and heal them, merciful warm statue.
The model of Ojizousan is the monk who were willing to attain nirvana, and he used to share / teach Buhddism thought to others, grew together with people.
Many of Ojizousan have got red bibs or red hats and offered snacks in front. This is because Ojizousan often prayed for health of children. It is believed that Ojizousan can protect children from danger so many parents pray for their childrens’ good health and growth. Red is considered to be a color of correctness, cleanliness and honesty. People put red cloths to Ojizousan for the sake of talisman.
Other than protecting children, Ojizousan have various faiths such as long life, great harvest, winning for war and protecting the village from bad lucks etc depend on each Ojizousan where they are located, what happened in the area. Famous ones can be 道祖神 (Dousoshin), This type of Ojizousan helps people not to be lost on the way, traffic safety. Other one is 身代わり地蔵 (Migawari Jizou), who takes bad lucks for people and sacrifice oneself to save them.
Sometimes, there are 6 Ojizousan lining next to each other. This one is called 六地蔵 (Rokujizou). In Buddhism, it is believed that all the soul travel 6 different worlds and repeat reborn cycle (One of them is human life, others are hell, animal, heaven etc). This 6 Ojizousan helps us in each world and lead us a good being
Ojizousan is a substitute of a Buddha while Buddha is away, helping people with big warm heart. If you encounter them on the road, please be thankful to them:)
Little Japan Dictionary 