Guardians

This is very beautiful.

Every time I visit Tokyo, I make it a point to visit this temple and display. It is a well tended reminder that many hoped-for children don't come to life - a reminder of how lucky we are to have made it.

@shonanbb: Well, as a matter of fact, I have been seeing many scenes of Jizo from my childhood. And yet I haven't been well versed in Jizo for many years. And now I have wised up. Thanks for the heads-up.

In the name of Jizo, I pray that everyone here can learn more about him and accept him as their personal guardian.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2012/03/31/our-lives/a-guide-to-jizo-guardian-of-travelers-and-the-weak/

Good Jizo info here to broaden your horizons before you perhaps post wrong or partial information.

Are these the statues that also represent the children lost through abortion or infanticide through the practice of Mabiki after the war?

@debucho: close, but no sigar:

"guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses".

Btw fun fact, a jizo is also known as "Kshitigarbha", try saying that 3 times quickly.

@debucho - and miscarriages

correction: "the guardian deity of ABORTED children"