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When you walk through the quiet residential streets of Kohinata in Bunkyo Ward, you arrive at the lush, green grounds of Nichirin-ji Temple. Here stands the “Amazake Baba Jizo,” which has been revered by ordinary people as the god of coughs since the Edo period.
This stone statue depicts an old woman dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, and its unique appearance sets it apart from typical Jizo statues. Its origin dates back to an old woman who suffered from asthma during the Edo period. She wished, “After my death, I want to become the god of coughs and save people suffering from the same illness,” and began selling amazake on the approach to Nichirin-ji Temple. The amazake gained a reputation for being effective against colds, and after her death, people built this statue to honor her achievements. (seisyuu1.com)
Within the temple grounds, there is also a stone Buddha bound with ropes, known as the “Shibarare Jizo,” which further illustrates the depth of faith among ordinary people. This Jizo, located on the grounds of Rinsen-ji Temple, is associated with an anecdote from the Edo period’s Ooka Seidan, in which the Jizo was tied up to prove the innocence of a criminal. (blog.goo.ne.jp)
Additionally, nearby Genkaku-ji Temple houses a statue of King Enma, known as the “Konnyaku Enma.” According to legend, when an old woman suffering from an eye disease prayed to the statue, King Enma gave her one of his own eyes and cured her illness. Since then, the statue has been revered for healing eye diseases. (city.bunkyo.lg.jp)
These Jizo and Enma statues are manifestations of the faith of ordinary people and the wishes of those suffering from illness, continuing from the Edo period. Even today, many visitors come to these sites, where they can experience their history and culture.