23‏/09‏/2012

Unique Josen-ji Temple, Yokohama

The simple beauty of small, lovely Jizo statues

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

The temple is of the Shingon Mikkyo Buddhist sect

The statues are tucked away in a back corner of the temple yard

They come in two sizes: small and very small

Prayer beads adorn many of the statues

Many have their heads and shoulders covered, perhaps to brave the elements

This one has been dressed to look like a pilgrim

Perhaps a femaie?

As simple as it gets

These statues are adorned with the traditional red found on most jizo statues

Mickey Mouse is popular even in Japan

Bowed in prayer for the souls of unborn or dead children

Josen-ji Temple, a 10-minute bus ride from Ofuna Station, is best known for its labyrinth of ancient caves. The caves are indeed impressive and definitely worth a visit. But while I was there, I was also fascinated by these tiny jizo statues. In fact, I couldn’t drag myself away from them. Placed row after row on a number of outdoor shelves, they come in two sizes: small and very small. And despite their apparent sameness, many of them had their own distinct look and character, mainly due to how they had been dressed.

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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