Known
as the patron saint of children, travelers and those languishing in jigoku
(hell), Jizo Bosatsu is one of a large number of "deities" in
Buddhism. If you have ever traveled to Japan you will find Jizo literally
everywhere, along roadsides, in gardens and cemeteries and of course in
Buddhist temples crisscrossing the country. Illustrated is a small, sculpted
stoneware Jizo-bosatsu figure made by Mashiko ceramic artist and sculpture,
Fujiwara Ikuzo. Though quite idiosyncratic to the artist, Fujiwara has kept the
idealized features of the praying Jizo so that the imagery is immediately
identifiable from the forehead jewel representing the third eye to the long
earlobes and serene expression alluding to the state of nirvana. Like many of
Fujiwara Ikuzo's figures, this small okimono has a somewhat comical appearance
not intended to mock or satire the iconography but perhaps to make it more approachable
and easier to fit within the modern home as welcomed guest and spiritual
representative and advisor. What ever his intentions, this wonderful little
Jizo-bosatsu figure is likely to find himself quite at home from bookshelf to
home alter and just about anywhere he may wander.
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