24 Sites of the Kamakura Jizō Pilgrimage. Records show that the Kamakura Jizō Pilgrimage of 24 sites has existed since 1725. With the decline of Buddhism, however, the pilgrimage gradually became obsolete, especially after the Meiji Imperial Restoration of 1868. After Shintō was designated as the state religion, many of the Buddha statues were thrown away, destroyed or just disappeared. In 1901, Jizō worshippers checked how many Jizō statues were extant and confirmed there were 24. To promote worship for Jizō, Buddhist groups reinstated this pilgrimage in the same year. Most of them are located in the city of Kamakura, but a few will be found at the outskirts of the city. <Source: Tadahiro Kondo, Mark Schumacher>

The number 24 should not be ignored. The 24th day of each month is considered Jizō's Ennichi 縁日. Ennichi literally means "related day." This is translated as holy day, a monthly memorial day with special significance to a particular Buddha or Bodhisattva. Saying prayers to the deity on this day is believed to bring greater merits and results than on regular days. The Heian-era document Konjaku Monogatari 今昔物語 (XVII:4) gives Jizo's Ennichi as the 24th day of each month (see note). Even today, the annual Jizō Bon 地蔵盆 ritual (Confession to Jizō Ceremony) is held on August 24 at numerous locations throughout Japan, during which people confess the faults they committed during the year in the hopes of erasing bad karma, and to pray that Jizō will grant them longevity and protect their children. Today the ceremony is often combined with a children's festival (Jizō-sai 地蔵祭) wherein groups of children rotate a lengthy rosary (juzu-kuri 数珠繰り) made of large beads. Touching the beads to one’s head is said to bring good luck.

Writes Tadahiro Kondo: “Sugimoto-dera has two Jizō statues. A wooden statue enshrined in the main hall and the other is a stone statue placed open-air in the courtyard. The statue of Yagara-Jizo at Engakuji is no longer extant as it was destroyed by the 1923 earthquake. Only a stone monument stands in the courtyard of Keisho-an, Engakuji. Yagara means an arrow and the story behind this Jizo relates to a samurai called Gongoro Kamakura. During a fierce battle in late 11th century, his left eye was shot by an enemy's arrow. Without being daunted at all, he continued the fight and came back to the camp with the arrow still in his eye. To pay homage to his braveness, a Jizō statue was carved as his guardian deity. Kenchōji has three Jizō statues which are on the list of the Kamakura Jizō Pilgrimage. Since no literature clarifies exactly where those statues are enshrined, I wrote a letter to the Education Department of this temple enclosing a self-addressed envelop and a postage stamp. Ten days later, I received their reply, which said that Saita Jizō is enshrined in the body of the Jizō Bosatsu Statue, the main object of worship at Kenchōji Temple, and Shinpei Jizō at the right-hand side of the main hall surrounded by miniature Jizō statues. <end quote>

Buddhism for the Common Folk
The three dieties Amida, Kannon, and Jizō became especially popular among the common folk during the Kamakura Period, and today remain the bedrock of folk Buddhism in Japan. Amida for the coming life in paradise, Kannon for salvation in earthly life, and Jizō for salvation from hell.

THIS IS A SIDE PAGE
Return to Main Jizō Page

Copyright 1995 - 2014. Mark Schumacher. Email Mark.
All stories and photos, unless specified otherwise, by Schumacher.
www.onmarkproductions.com     |     make a donation

Please do not copy these pages or photos into Wikipedia or elsewhere without proper citation !