12/11/2025
✨ Mizumuke Jizō – the Water-Facing Guardians of Koyasan ✨
At Okunō-in on Koyasan, fourteen statues line the stream beside the bridge that marks the entrance to the sacred grounds.
⭐️Did you know? Long ago, visitors purified themselves in the water here before crossing.
Today, that tradition lives on in a gentle, symbolic way: pouring water over the feet of the statues as a heartfelt prayer for the peaceful repose of the dead. Many visitors also place thin wooden amulets in front of the statues as offerings. 🪵🙏
Although they’re collectively called the Water-facing Jizō, the statues are a mix: standing and seated Jizō, Miroku, Fudō Myō-ō, and Kannon. Each figure carries its own presence and meaning, guiding our prayers, reflections, and moments of mindfulness.
If you find yourself here, take a quiet moment to pour water, place an offering if you wish, and feel the connection to this centuries-old ritual. 💙
Have you ever experienced a ritual like this in Japan - or anywhere else in the world? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!