“The Earth Embracing” is so compassionate and all-loving that lotus flowers spring up wherever he goes. Sakyamuni chose him
to remove suffering and guide souls to righteousness. So he searches through our planet, going deep into its fiery heart. In Japan he is Jizo-san, special guardian of children. He beats off danger with his rod—“Shakujo”—and jingles its two rings to awaken us to his mercy. From the sacred jewel— “Nyoi-hoju”—in his hand, he showers wisdom and joy on those in despair. Sometimes seen as a monk, he brings food to the hungry and cool water to the thirsty.
Reference
1. Masaharu Anesaki, “Buddhist Art”, 1913.
2. The Kokka volume 17#194, “Portrait of Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva”, 1906.
