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 popular belief among the common people. 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 manifest the blessings of the earth.
The creation of stone Buddha statues began in the late Heian period, and during the Edo period, they became widely established in rural areas as objects of popular faith among the common people, leading to their active production. Among the stone Buddha statues created during the Edo period, the Jizo Bodhisattva towers are the most numerous, truly representing the stone Buddhas of the early modern period. The typical depiction features a monk-like figure holding a treasure jewel (a gem that grants wishes) in the left hand and a staff (a cane carried by monks) in the 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 grounds, and in cemeteries, but many have been moved from their original locations due to recent development work. 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 divided into five types: 22 examples of round-carved standing statues, 7 examples of round-carved seated statues, 9 examples of round-carved standing statues with boat-shaped halos, 1 example of a round-carved standing statue with a six-sided stupa, and 1 example that combines a round-carved seated statue and a round-carved standing statue. Among these, there are 9 pairs that take the form of the six Jizo. Looking at the relationship between the builders and their faith, 16 examples were built by members of the Nembutsu group, 9 examples by multiple people, 6 examples by individuals, and 9 examples are unknown. This indicates that many were built by people from the Nembutsu groups that were active in various regions. It is also noteworthy that women are prominently represented among the builders. Examples inscribed with terms like "Women Nembutsu Group" and "Village Women" particularly indicate that they gathered the faith of women. There are also instances where Jizo Bodhisattva faith is connected with other beliefs. As seen in inscriptions for Koshin offerings, sutra offerings, return home offerings, and bridge offerings, it had relationships with various beliefs.

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 the representative Jizo Bodhisattva towers in the city.
The photo at the top of the page is located within the grounds of Jorakuji Temple and is the oldest Jizo Bodhisattva monument in the city, built in the 4th year of Kanbun (1664). It was constructed by the people of Shimo-Shinden in Nagunuma Village, and from the inscription "Nembutsu Kuyo So Shujun Ningen Koshin Kuyo So Shushichi Ningen," we can see that it was connected to the Koshin faith that was spreading in rural areas at that time. Additionally, it is the oldest Koshin monument and represents an ancient form of stone Buddha that predates the generalization of Aomen Kongō as the main deity.
The photo 1 below shows the "Enmei Jizo," a Jizo Bodhisattva tower located at the foot of the railing bridge in Higashi-Naganuma, which has been given a unique name due to the faith of many people. In the city, there are other examples with names such as "Hachibei Jizo." Photo 2 is located within the grounds of Engaku-ji 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 depict the 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 within the grounds of Joraku-ji, while photo 4 shows a Six Jizo monument built at the entrance of the old approach to Koshou-ji.