A statue of Jizo Bosatsu sits in the main hall of Kencho-ji Temple with its eyes open

Statue of Kshitigarbha in Kencho-Ji — Jizo Bosatsu at Kencho-ji Temple

As one enters the dimly lit main hall of Kencho-ji Temple, a large Buddha statue immediately catches one's eye. It is a seated statue of Jizo Bosatsu (Jizo Bodhisattva). This large seated statue, built in the Muromachi period (1333-1573), sits quietly. As is the custom when representing Jizo Bosatsu, he was shaven-haired, holding a tin cane in his left hand and a jewel in his right hand.

Jizo Bosatsu is said to have the power to save those who suffer in the Six Realms. It is unusual to find it in a Zen temple, but that seems to be because this place was originally an execution site. In any case, it is quite different from the cute Jizo Bodhisattva that I usually see, and it is also large in size. It is so huge that one might think that this Jizo Bosatsu statue is the originator of many Jizo statues.

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