Jizo Bodhisattva Tower

Faith in Jizo Bodhisattva

The faith in Jizo Bodhisattva is said to have begun in the Nara period. It spread during the Heian period, when the idea of the end of the law became prevalent, and became a focus of popular belief. This faith is a belief in worldly benefits to escape from the sufferings of this world and the pains of the afterlife, and it is considered to have great power to save all beings and to represent the blessings of the earth.
The creation of stone statues began in the late Heian period, and during the Edo period, it became widely established in rural areas as an object of popular belief, leading to a significant increase in their production. Among the stone statues created during the Edo period, the Jizo Bodhisattva pagoda is the most numerous and can be said to represent modern stone statues. The typical depiction shows Jizo in monk form, holding a jewel (a treasure that grants wishes) in his left hand and a staff (a cane carried by monks) in his right hand, which has become a universal symbol of the approachable Jizo faith.

Jizo Bodhisattva Tower of Inagi City

In Inagi City, there are currently 40 Jizo Bodhisattva towers. Looking at the time they were built, it spans approximately 200 years from the 4th year of Kanbun (1664) to the 7th year of Ansei (1860), with the most being constructed in the 1700s. They are often found along old roads, within temple precincts, and in cemeteries, but many have been relocated due to recent development projects. The regional distribution is concentrated in Yanokuchi, Higashi-Naganuma, and Sakahama.
Let's take a look at the forms and contents of the Jizo Bodhisattva towers in the city. The forms can be categorized into five types: 22 round-carved standing statues, 7 round-carved seated statues, 9 relief standing statues with boat-shaped halos, 1 relief standing statue with a six-sided stupa, and 1 combined round-carved seated statue and relief standing statue. Among these, there are 9 pairs that take the form of the Six Jizo. Examining the relationship between the builders and their faith, we find that 16 were built by members of the Nembutsu group, 9 by multiple individuals, 6 by individuals, and 9 are unknown. This indicates that many were constructed by members of the Nembutsu groups active in each region. It is also noteworthy that women are prominently represented among the builders. Examples inscribed with "Women Nembutsu Group" and "Village Women" particularly indicate that they gathered the faith of women. There are also instances where Jizo Bodhisattva faith is linked with other beliefs. As seen in inscriptions for Koshin offerings, sutra offerings, return home offerings, and bridge offerings, it had various connections with different faiths.

Distribution by Region

District	Quantity
Yanokuchi	10
Oshitate	1
Higashi-Naganuma	8
Omaru	3
Momura	5
Sakahama	8
Hirao	5

Total: 40

Representative Jizo Bodhisattva Tower

Next, we will introduce representative Jizo Bodhisattva towers in the city.
First, the photo at the top of the page is located in the grounds of Jorakuji Temple and is the oldest Jizo Bodhisattva tower in the city, built in the 4th year of Kanbun (1664). It was constructed by the people of Naganuma Village, Shimo-Shinden, and from the inscription "Nembutsu Kuyo So Shujun Jushin Koshin Kuyo So Shujun Nanin," we can see that it was connected to the Koshin faith that was spreading in rural areas at that time. It is also the oldest Koshin tower and represents an ancient form of stone Buddha before the widespread adoption of Aizen Myo-o as the main deity.
The photo below (Photo 1) shows the Jizo Bodhisattva tower called "Enmei Jizo," which stands at the foot of the railing bridge in Higashi-Naganuma and has been given a unique name due to the faith of many people. In addition to this, there are other examples in the city with names such as "Hachibei Jizo." Photo 2 is located in the grounds of Engakuji Temple and is a rare example that combines a round-carved seated statue with a relief of the Six Jizo on the pedestal. Photos 3 and 4 are Six Jizo, which aim to save the deceased suffering in the realms of the six paths of reincarnation. Photo 3 features six seated statues located in the grounds of Jorakuji Temple, while Photo 4 is a Six Jizo monument located at the entrance of the old approach to Koshinji Temple.