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 DOSOJIN (Dousojin; Shinto Term)
PROTECTIVE STONE MARKERS
BOTH SHINTO & BUDDHIST
LAST UPDATE: Jan. 16, 2005
Please also visit the Stones Top Menu for an overview of other stone markers and memorials. Also see Magaibutsu (Buddhist images carved on cliffs), and Sekibutsu (free-standing Buddhist images carved in stone). These latter types of stone sculptures are found nationwide, although over half are located in Kyushu, the earliest inhabited area of Japan, and the main door to the Japanese islands during the country's earliest contact with the cultures of mainland Asia.
DOSOJIN -- The Shinto Tradition
 
Dosojin (or Dousojin) refers to Shinto deities of roads and borders. Also called Sai no Kami or Dorokujin in some areas. These deities reside in stone markers found at village boundaries, in mountain passes, and along country byways. In urban areas today, dosojin stone markers are often placed at street corners and near bridges to protect pedestrians. As the deity of the village border, the dosojin wards off evil spirits and catastrophes, and protects the village from evil outside influences. As deity of the road, the dosojin protects travelers, pilgrims, and those in "transitional" stages. These stone markers may bear only inscriptions, but often they depict human forms, in particular the images of a man and woman -- the latter manifestation is revered as the kami (deity) of marriage and fertility. In some localities, the dosojin is worshipped as the kami of easy childbirth.
 Says site contributor, Dr. Gabi Greve: The Takasago Legend 高砂伝説 is one of the oldest in Japanese mythology. An old couple -- his name is Joo (尉) and her name is Uba (媼) -- known together as Jotomba, are said to appear from the mist at Lake Takasago. The old man and his wife are usually portrayed talking happily together with a pine tree in the background. Signifying, as they do, a couple living in perfect harmony until they grow old together, they have long been a symbol of the happiness of family life. The story is portrayed in a famous Noo play called "Takasago no Uta." For many more details, please visit Gabi's Takasago page. <end quote>
 Japan's popular Fire Festivals, held around January 15 each year, are known as Dosojin festivals. Shrine decorations, talismans, and other shrine ornaments used during the local New-Year holiday are gathered together and burned in bonfires. They are typically pilled onto bamboo, tree branches, and straw, and set on fire to wish for good health and a rich harvest in the coming year. The practice of burning shrine decorations has many names, including Sai-no-Kami, Sagicho, and Dondo Yaki. According to some, the crackling sound of the burning bamboo tells the listener whether the year will be lucky or not. Children throw their calligraphy into the bonfires -- and if it flies high into the sky, it means they will become good at calligraphy. (above two photos courtesy kazekobo -- see link below)
DOSOJIN - The Buddhist Tradition
 The origin of dosojin stone markers is shrouded in the mists of uncertainty, and no exact date can be given. But precedents are ample in the Buddhist world (see links below for some wonderful photo tours). Here again we meet one of Japan's most popular and beloved deities, Jizo Bosatsu. In the early centuries following the introduction of Buddhism to India (introduced around 500BC), Jizo became known as the guardian of travelers and pilgrims, and statues of his image could be found along pilgrimage routes and mountain passes in India and Southeast Asia. That tradition is still evident in modern Japan, where one often finds groupings of six Jizo statues standing guard on the high roads or at busy intersections. (Note: The six Jizo correspond to the Six States of Existence in Buddhist traditions; click here for more on the Six States.) Among the many trails zigzagging the foothills of Kamakura, one can also find solitary figures of Jizo guarding the way. Nationwide, one can find stone statues in almost every corner -- statues honoring a bewildering number of different Buddhist deities. (see links).
 For example, many stone statues of Batou Kannon (Kannon with Horse's Head) can still be found in Japan (especially northern Japan), set up along dangerous paths and byways to protect travelers and their horses from injury. See Batou Kannon for more details. Stone markers with Buddhist associations are called sekibutsu in Japan (see below for details).
Says Norman Havens: A recent survey has reported that Fujino Township (Kanagawa Prefecture) has over 800 stone buddhas, images of kami, and similar memorial stelae throughout the area. During the pre-modern periods, Buddhist precepts prevented the Japanese from eating four-legged mammals, and when a horse or ox died after a lifetime of work, it was frequently memorialized with a stele. As the one here shows, the practice continued into the modern period. <end quote by Norman Havens from www2.gol.com/users/nhavens/htmlfile/bato-e.html>
Sekibutsu 石仏 (Stone Carvings of Buddhist Deities)
Courtesy of JAANUS (excellent dictionary of Buddhist concepts)
www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/s/sekibutsu.htm
Sekibutsu literally means "Stone Buddha." A Buddhist image made in rock or stone. The term sekizou 石造 or "carving from stone" was used to indicate the material of a sculptured work. Sekibutsu were divided broadly into two groups:
 Magaibutsu 磨崖仏
Buddhist images carved on large rock outcrops, cliffs, or in caves. Caves carved with Buddhist images which were large enough for people to enter and used as temples were specifically called sekkutsu jiin 石窟寺院 (cave temple).
Famous examples of Magaibutsu include those in Usuki 臼杵 (Ooita prefecture; 11c-12c; see above photo), Ooya 大谷 (Tochigi prefecture.; 11c-12c), Izumisawa 泉沢 (Fukushima prefecture) as well as the Fudou 不動 at Nissekiji 日石寺 (Toyama prefecture.; 12c). It is speculated that stone statues suddenly became popular because their durable quality suited the mood of the "end of the world" belief (mappou shisou 末法思想) prevalent in the 10th to early11c.
The 13c production of sekibutsu once again focused sculpture production on much smaller-scale works, and with the exception of the group stone carvings at Hakone 箱根 (Kanagawa prefecture.) no magaibutsu carvings were produced. However, numerous, small-scale free-standing stone statues related to regional popular faith, such as Jizou 地蔵, Shoumen Kongou 青面金剛, or local Shinto deities (see Shintou Bijutsu 神道美術), were produced and placed at the outskirts of a village to ward off evil and sickness. Many such statues can still be seen today on roadsides. For much more on Magaibutsu and Sekibutsu, please see the Big Buddha page.
 Free-Standing Sekibutsu 石仏
A free-standing, movable statue carved from stone. Carving a work from a single block of stone was called isseki-zukuri 一石造. Sometimes a single figure or group statue was carved out of a single block of stone, but sometimes several blocks were joined. Stone was the chief material used for Buddhist images in China and India, whilst in Japan stone statues have never challenged the dominance of wood and bronze because appropriate stone materials were not so readily available. Neverthless, examples dating from the 7c on can be found over a very wide area of the country. Mainly soft rocks such as tuff (consolidated volcanic ash) and tufa (porous calcium carbonate rock) were used until the 12c, but thereafter hard rocks such as granite came to be used.
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Stone
Buddha Triad
Sansonzou 三尊像
H = 115.4 cm
Ishiidera 石位寺 (Nara)
Late 7th Century
Photo by Ogawa-Kouzou
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 The oldest known sekibutsu 石仏 (stone sculpture) in Japan is the Buddha Triad (Sansonzou 三尊像) at Ishiidera 石位寺 Temple (Nara ; late 7th century). The main deity and two attendants were carved from a single chunk of stone in intermediate elief (hannikubori 半肉彫). Another well-known example is the 8th century bodhisattva group called Zutou 頭塔 (Nara), which depicts 13 figures carved in low relief (usunikubori 薄肉彫）on one stone block. There are a few other examples dating from the 9th century in the Nara area, and after the 10th century large-scale rock and cliff carvings were produced over a very wide area of Japan. <above paragraph adapted from JAANUS>
LEARN MORE
- Big Buddha Statues in Japan
Learn much more about large and small stone carvings of the Buddhist deities, with special sections on the Magaibutsu (Buddhist images carved on large rock outcrops, cliffs, or in caves) and Sekibutsu (free-standing, movable statues carved from stone).
- Ishidoro
Japanese stone lanterns.
- Gorinto, Gravestones, Memorial Markers. Includes details on Buddhist stone markers for funerals, and for demarcating sacred spots and memorial purposes. This includes steles, pagodas, and stupas, often in memory of deceased people.
 Dosojin Photo Tour #1
This Japanese-language site is a treasure house of photos of stone markers in Japan. Although written in Japanese, the images talk louder and are easy to select. Highly recommended. Outstanding selection of photos.
http://inthewind.cool.ne.jp/
asekibutu.htm
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Dosojin Photo Tour #2
Another outstanding Japanese-language site with many photos of stone markers, organized into useful categories (sorry, Japanese language only). Easy to navigate. Dozens of photo tours. Highly recommended. Excellent photos.
http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/
~yosikatu/photo1.htm
http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/
~yosikatu/top.html
- Dosojin Tours (More)
http://homepage2.nifty.com/
koba843/photo/photo14a.htm
Click the pink 次ページ button to scroll through pictures.
kazekobo.cool.ne.jp/
plngallery/vol07/idx.htm
Click the thumbnail image.
www.geocities.co.jp/
SilkRoad-Ocean/8937/html/
setumei_frame.htm
Click the left-column links.
- Dosojin Tour #5
www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Ishi-1.html (photos of Daruma stones)
- OTHERS. Other stone markers include protector deities like the Shishi (magical lions who stand guard outside the gates at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines), the Tanuki, a raccoon-like magical dog found outside bars and business shops, and the Maneki Neko (beckoning cat) found outside restaurants.
Gorinto Gravestones and Jizo Bosatsu
Protectors along trail in Kamakura
Kinubariyama Hiking Course
Dosojin at Izu Hanto, photo by Gabi Greve
To learn about the Japanese legend of the Happy Couple,
Please visit Gabi Greve's page at www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Meoto-1.html
a loving couple
during all seasons
spring in the air
(Haiku by Gabi Greve)
Kinubariyama Hiking Course in Kamakura
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