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 Towers in 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 us 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 fully rounded standing statues, 7 examples of fully rounded seated statues, 9 examples of standing statues in high relief with boat-shaped halos, 1 example of a standing statue in high relief on a six-sided pillar, and 1 example combining a fully rounded seated statue with a high relief standing statue. Among these, there are 9 sets that take the form of the Six Jizo. Regarding the relationship between the builders and the faith, 16 examples were built by Nenbutsu groups, 9 by multiple people, 6 by individuals, and 9 are unknown. This shows that many were erected by members of Nenbutsu groups active in each region. It is also notable that women stand out among the builders. Examples inscribed with "Women’s Nenbutsu Group" or "Village Women" indicate that the faith particularly attracted female devotees. There are also cases where the Jizo Bodhisattva faith was linked with other beliefs. As seen in inscriptions for Koshin memorial services, sutra memorial services, pilgrimage memorial services, and bridge memorial services, it was connected with various 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 Towers

Next, we will introduce the representative Jizo Bodhisattva towers in the city.
The photo at the very top of the page shows the Jizo Bodhisattva tower located within the grounds of Jorakuji Temple, built in Kanbun 4 (1664), making it the oldest Jizo Bodhisattva tower in the city. It was erected by the people of Shimonitta in Naganuma Village, and the inscription "Ten people from the Nenbutsu memorial group, seven people from the Koshin memorial group" reveals its connection to the Koshin faith, which was spreading in rural areas at the time. It is also the oldest Koshin tower and represents an ancient form of stone Buddha predating the generalization of Shomen Kongo as the principal deity.
Photo 1 below shows the Jizo Bodhisattva tower called "Enmei Jizo," located at the foot of the railing bridge in Higashi-Naganuma. It has a unique name given due to the faith of many people. In the city, there are other examples with names such as "Hachibei Jizo." Photo 2 shows a rare example built within the precincts of Engakuji Temple, where a round-carved seated statue and the bas-relief of the Six Jizo on the pedestal stone are combined. Photos 3 and 4 depict the Six Jizo, which serve the purpose of saving the souls suffering in the six realms of reincarnation. Photo 3 shows six seated statues located within the precincts of Jorakuji Temple, and photo 4 shows a Six Jizo pillar standing at the entrance of the old approach to Takashoji Temple.