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Asekaki Jizo 汗かき地蔵 (lit. = Sweating Jizo)
One of many manifestations of Jizo in Japan
Daio-Cho Town, Ise-Shima Area, Mie Prefecture
The local Jizo Hall in Daio-cho Town holds one of the three great festivals in the Ise-Shima area, the Festival of the Sweating Jizo. According to local legend, a statue of Jizo was long ago caught in a fishing net off Daio Island. It took three attempts to finally retrieve the statue, as though the statue was resisting capture. The fisherman and villagers decided to build a hall and enshrine the statue there to act as a protective village deity.
Since then, local residents say this Jizo statue excretes white sweat if good things are about to happen, and black sweat when bad things are foreseen. The body of this seated stone statue of Jizo is about three feet in height. According to locals, a beautiful pearl is hidden inside the statue. When people pray to this manifestation of Jizo, some may wipe away Jizo’s sweat with a purified paper. This, say believers, will bring answers to their prayers. For more on the legend of the Sweating Jizo, please see the “Izo Engibun,” written in 1682 AD by the Buddhist priest Fukuju of Senyuji Temple. The festival of the sweating Jizo is held on February 24th each year. To learn more about the Daio-cho Sweating Jizo, please see below links:
Kaida-son Village, Nagano Prefecture
kaidakogen.jp/guide/guide14/guide1404.html (J-site)
In front of the local Genryuu-ji Temple are six statues of Jizo Bosatsu, a grouping found commonly in Japan. The largest statue, the one in the middle, is known locally as the Sweating Jizo. It will sweat black to warn local farmers of a late frost or an upcoming dry spell. Forewarned about impending frost, for example, the villagers will make bonfires in the fields to protect the crops from the cold.
Funo Town, Chiba Prefecture
omigawa.chiba.jp/mukasi/sinkou/asekaki.htm (J-site)
Located in a special Hall for the Life-Prolonging Jizo (Enmei Jizo). On a woodblock print found here, one can see the people assembling around this Jizo as the center of their worship. Local folk say this Jizo also helps to ensure easy birth and to protect the elderly. In old times, according to the legend, when someone in the village died, the neighbors gathered here to pray, only to witness sweat coming from Jizo’s body -- indicating, it is said, Jizo’s willingness to assume the pain and sorrow of the people.
Mt. Koya, Sacred Mountain of Shingon Sect
reihokan.or.jp/yomoyama/various/oku/jizoson/ (J-site)
asahi-net.or.jp/~pf8k-mtmt/choishi/chokoya2.htm (J-site)
Many people are buried in this sacred area, and gravestones of all types can be found here. Jizo, popularly known as the protector of those serving time in the netherworld, is represented in many forms. One hall that stands near the Oku no In 奥之院 (the innermost temple of the Koyasan Monestary, which houses the tomb of Kobo Daishi) is devoted to the Sweating Jizo, who drips with sweat when taking on the pain and suffering of the people.
Choukou-Ji Temple, Inazawa Village, Aichi Pref.
city.inazawa.aichi.jp
This Jizo sweats to warn people that something bad is about to happen. Sometimes the villagers come with towels to dry him down, but he just keeps pouring sweat from his head down.
Nakajima-mura Village, Fukushima Prefecture
jalan.net/kanko
Famous since the Edo Period as the “Sweating Jizo of the Northern Province” (Ooshuu Asekaki Jizo 奥州汗かき地蔵). The Jizo Hall, where the statue is enshrined, dates from the year 1335.
Hashima, Gifu Prefrefecture
hashima-gifu.ed.jp
This Jizo does not sweat to warn against bad things, but sweats in the morning when the monks go begging (takuhatsu) for food and contributions.
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