Sentai (Mizuko) Jizou #1, a photo from Kanagawa, Kanto

Photographer's Note

In Hasedera's Jizou-Dou (Hase Temple) these Jizou represent still-born, miscarried or aborted babies. Parents grieving their children that didn't make it into this world come to this particular part of the temple to pray for them.

To explain the title of the photo, "Sentai" is simply "one thousand (objects)", to represent the number of statues. See the reason in my other photo from this site "Sentai (Mizuko) Jizou #2".
"Mizuko" directly translated mean "Water Child". A term used for still born or aborted babies.
See the other photos from this day trip here.

travelyurt trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

AdrianW (2274) 2003-05-25 0:07

Nice shot! That hat adds character, and humour to an otherwise sombre scene.. On balance I think I'd like to have seen the top row in its entirety, but it's still an excellent capture :-D

gringofil (0) 2003-05-25 0:24

Very nice! I like the perspective here as well as the subject. Thank you for sharing something like this with us. Good work!

Skorj (581) 2003-05-25 5:22

The simple composition here is very nice. The single hatted mizuko provides just the right amount of a central subject.

dovi (1068) 2003-05-25 6:51

Interesting story behind a very nice shot, thanks for sharing the details!!

Aegean (2571) 2003-05-25 8:15

This is a great shot and a great story behind it...Just looking at the faces of the babies statues the spectator can feel the sorrow of the parents praying there for their lost children...Thanks for sharing...

Rupes (913) 2003-06-15 12:52

I agree with AdrianW about "the top row in its entirety",but it´s a great shot anyway.

travelyurt (276) 2004-08-19 10:29

I think the angle is perfect...considering the number of statues at this site, you can't really include them all and still maintain this level of intimacy with them. Great shot.

Aspirin (278) 2006-09-16 23:45

A great shot. and nice informations.
The hat gives a unique character to the photo.