Comments on: Mythology, Pictures from Kaizozan-Hasedera http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Al Billings http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/#comment-1827 Al Billings Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:33:26 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-1827 I must say, when I wandered into the Jizo Grotto/Shrine area there for the first time, around the corner blindly, my reaction was "WTF?!" as I looked upon the rank upon rank of little Jizos everywhere. Definitely a bit on the creepy side. I must say, when I wandered into the Jizo Grotto/Shrine area there for the first time, around the corner blindly, my reaction was “WTF?!” as I looked upon the rank upon rank of little Jizos everywhere. Definitely a bit on the creepy side.

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/#comment-1826 Gerald Ford Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:36:47 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-1826 I was thinking more like Oompah-Loompahs from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Cute but mysterious. :D Maybe Smurfs. I was thinking more like Oompah-Loompahs from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Cute but mysterious. :D

Maybe Smurfs.

]]> By: Erg http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/#comment-1828 Erg Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:27:44 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-1828 All those Jizo's are incredibly creepy. You look at it and, you know, wonder if the guys are going to get up, shamble around and feast on the flesh of the living. All those Jizo’s are incredibly creepy. You look at it and, you know, wonder if the guys are going to get up, shamble around and feast on the flesh of the living.

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/#comment-1829 Gerald Ford Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:42:22 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-1829 Ha ha ha, "jizo-rific". I too remember the stooping in the dark, and having <em>no idea</em> what I was looking at, until I looked things up on the Internet weeks later. I have to agree that 10,000 jizo statues may be a bit excessive. That same day I went to a Shinto shrine nearby called Tsuruoka-hachimangu which happened to have an exhibit nearby of Buddhist art. In that exhibit, they had really life-like Jizo statues on loan from various temples in the area. I liked those alot more because they were less cartooney (and there was only 3 of them). You could almost feel Jizo looking at you. :) Sadly that exhibit was for a limited time, and I dont' recall which temples loaned the statues. Oh well. Ha ha ha, “jizo-rific”. I too remember the stooping in the dark, and having no idea what I was looking at, until I looked things up on the Internet weeks later. I have to agree that 10,000 jizo statues may be a bit excessive. That same day I went to a Shinto shrine nearby called Tsuruoka-hachimangu which happened to have an exhibit nearby of Buddhist art.

In that exhibit, they had really life-like Jizo statues on loan from various temples in the area. I liked those alot more because they were less cartooney (and there was only 3 of them). You could almost feel Jizo looking at you. :) Sadly that exhibit was for a limited time, and I dont’ recall which temples loaned the statues. Oh well.

]]> By: Al Billings http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/04/25/mythology-pictures-from-kaizozan-hasedera/#comment-1825 Al Billings Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:23:10 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=212#comment-1825 I'm told that the "cave" is largely artificial. Most of my memories of it involve a lot of stooping in the dark. My set from my visit is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/albill/sets/72157602131669790/. I thought it was a little too "Jizo-rific" at times but this was fairly early in our trip to Japan so I hadn't seen many places yet with 10,000 jizo statues (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/albill/1431513045/in/set-72157602131669790/). I’m told that the “cave” is largely artificial. Most of my memories of it involve a lot of stooping in the dark.

My set from my visit is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/albill/sets/72157602131669790/.

I thought it was a little too “Jizo-rific” at times but this was fairly early in our trip to Japan so I hadn’t seen many places yet with 10,000 jizo statues (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/albill/1431513045/in/set-72157602131669790/).

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