Originating from Sado Island, the gentle Jizo is one of the most popular and revered Buddhist deities in Japan. He is guardian to children, travelers, pregnant women and farmers. Images of Jizo 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.

What makes this stone Jizo so unique is the fact that he is wearing a silk bib, which would have been placed on the statue by people who wanted Jizo to protect the soul of a loved one. Pilgrims and worshippers would tie bib-like cloth aprons around the necks of stone Jizo figures as an act of devotion, as in the group of one hundred Jizo images at Kiyomizudera in Kyoto. Since Jizo is the guardian of children, parents would often bring little garments, hats or bibs and dress the statue in hopes that Jizo would specially protect their child both in this world or in the afterlife. This long silk bib is beautifully decorated using the shibori dyeing technique and hand painted blossoms and bamboo, which were highlighted in very tiny gold embroidered threads.

CONDITION is very good with only slight signs of aging, and the facial features are clear and distinct. One of the eyes has some wear that makes it appear bigger than the other, giving this Jizo an interesting expression. DIMENSIONS: 8 ½” (21.6 cm) high, 6” (15.3 cm) wide, 2 ¾” (7 cm) deep.