Jizo Bodhisattva is one of the most beloved figures of Japanese Buddhism. Everywhere in Japan, at busy intersections, at roadsides, in temples, in gardens, in graveyards, and along hiking trails, one will find statues of Jizo Bodhisattva.

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a being who vows to bring all others out of the vast ocean of suffering. “Jizo” is this bodhisattva’s Japanese name. He is known as “Dizang” in China, and his Sanskrit name is “Ksitigarbha”. The name may be translated in English as "Earth Treasury", "Earth Store", "Earth Matrix", or "Earth Womb".

Jizo is usually depicted as a simple Buddhist monk carrying a jewel in one hand to light up darkness and a staff with six rings in the other to warn insects and small creatures of his coming, so that he will not accidentally harm them. The rings of the staff correspond to the six realms Buddhists believe we can be reborn into. Jizo is especially concerned with the realms where the most suffering is found.

Jizo attends to an aspect of life that few like to think about. He is the protector of children, especially those who die before their parents. This includes aborted, stillborn or miscarried babies. In Japanese folklore, such children cannot cross to the spirit world because they have yet to accumulate sufficient good deeds. Jizo protects them in his robe and lets them listen to mantras as he guides them safely to the spirit world. Jizo is also believed to be one of the protective deities of travelers, and roadside statues of Jizo are a common sight in Japan. Firefighters are also believed to be under the protection of Jizo.

Clusters of Jizo statues with childlike expressions are common in cemeteries. They often wear tiny children's clothing or toys are placed there as a gift of a grateful parent whose child has been cured of dangerous sickness, thanks to Jizo's intervention - or as an offering and petition by grieving parents in hopes that Jizo will protect their lost one.

The Jizo Dharani is the chant “Om Ka Ka Kabi San Ma E Sowa Ka” which invokes Jizo’s presence and can help to dispel distressing thoughts or energy and offer well-being and protection.