Shiga

Oct 20, 2014 - 1 min read

Windmill Ojizos at Kongorinji

Thousands of little statues with plastic windmills

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Yellow maple leaves spread over the statues like a golden blessing

Ojizo is a Buddhist saint who helps children, travelers and firemen

Tiny Ojizo statues line both sides of the path

A stone pagoda overlooks a clearing full of Ojizo

Stone lanterns also stand beside the path

There must be thousands of the tiny statues!

Steps to the main hall of the temple see the end of the path - and the Ojizo statues

Moss grows on the tree trunks and tangled roots crowd close to the statues

The roughly paved path leads up the mountainside

Sometimes there are glimpses of buildings through the trees

Every statue has a frilly apron and a brightly colored plastic windmill

I can't quite decide whether it's cute or creepy

Rows of Ojizo also stand among the trees

It's a sight I will never forget!

Jizo is the Buddhist saint who is believed to protect children, travelers and firemen. I was told that each of these o-jizo statues represents a "water child" - a baby that was either still-born, miscarried or aborted. The grieving parents purchase little statues of Jizo-san from temples, to protect and care for their lost little ones in the afterworld. The statues at Kongorin-ji all bear colorful plastic windmills, and on August 9th a candle is lit at the feet of each statue.

More info

Find out more about Kongorin-ji Temple.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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