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Small Stone Sculpture of Jizo Bosatsu, Sado Island browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Devotional Objects: Pre 1900: item # 657655 Please refer to our stock # 9-102 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book $595 |
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This diminutive hand-carved Edo period Japanese sculpture of Jizo, a bosatsu (Buddhist saint), dates to the mid-19th century. This is a fine example of the distinctive style of stone Jizo which originated from Sadogashima, an island in the Japan Sea off the coast of Niigata Prefecture long famous for its production of small-scale stone sculptures of Jizo. Carved from the unique Sado Island granite in the image of a Buddhist monk with a shaven head, this Jizo stands with hands clasped and holding a sacred jewel. His patient, gentle face is very tranquil, and his simply rendered facial expression reflects a deep inner peace and serenity. An indistinct mark is etched into the base. The gentle Jizo is one of the most popular and revered Buddhist deities in Japan. He is guardian to children and travelers and pregnant women. All across Japan you will see him, generally weathered, his carved stone edges worn and rounded. Images of Jizo, the eternal guardian, are typically carved in granite or volcanic rock and placed at crossroads, where his presence is security for those traveling the roads, or on the grounds of a temple, where he will be asked to assist those in need. Because of their role in protecting travelers, stone images of Jizo were extremely prevalent at roadside shrines in the old days. Today, one still finds them clustered in open subsidiary shrines within the precincts of major Buddhist temples. This granite image of Jizo is a wonderful representation of the gentle and compassionate nature of this most beloved deity. CONDITION is excellent, and in spite of exposure to rain and wind for so many years, the features on his face remain clear and distinct. DIMENSIONS: 6 ¼” high, 2 ½” wide and 2” deep at the base. |
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