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Volume 3 181 |
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ADORATION OF JIZO, PATRON OF TRAVELLERS AND LITTLE CHILDREN |
WIDOW'S WEEDS IN HOKKAIDO |
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| Images of this most popular of Japanese deities are often inscribed with the legend "To the Lord Jizo, nourisher of little children." Among the chief duties attributed to this god is the protection of child spirits in the Underworld, and on the arm of this statue are hung some clothes, left there by mothers, in the hope that this kindly divinity will clothe their little ones' nakedness | Ainu widows wear hoods as signs of mourning, and after their husband's death cut their hair and do not let it grow long again. All the women cover their mouth with one hand when talking to a man |