The Face of Jizo: Image and Cult in Medieval Japanese Buddhism

Stone images of the Buddhist deity Jizo—bedecked in a red cloth bib and presiding over offerings of flowers, coins, candles, and incense—are a familiar sight throughout Japan. Known in China as a savior from hell’s torment, Jizo in Japan came to be transformed through fusion with local traditions. The cult became associated with gods of borders and stone gods known as dosojin. Hank Glassman’s book explores the stories behind sculptural and painted images of Jizo, revealing a fascinating cultural history. Employing iconological methods, the book focuses on the social, ritual, and narrative contexts of Jizo’s images, making it an engaging history of this quintessential Japanese Buddhist deity.