# Hōgyū Jizō

Hōgyū Jizō (放牛地蔵) are Japanese stone statues, mostly representing the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, made by Buddhist monk Hōgyū (around 1672–1732) between 1722 and 1732 in Kumamoto, Japan. When Hōgyū was about 14, in 1686, his father was killed by a samurai. Later he made stone statues for the repose of the soul of his father.

## Historical records

In January 1686, a blacksmith called Hichizaemon, a heavy drinker, threw a bamboo blower at his son. It accidentally hit the forehead of a samurai, Ohyano Genzaemon. Despite repeated apologies, Genzaemon immediately killed Hichizaemon with a sword, that being legal at the time by kiri sute gomen. Genzaemon, the son and his sister all wrote witness statements, and the Bugyō did not punish Genzaemon.
Out of grief, the son entered the Buddhist priesthood for the repose of his father, and offered a prayer with a vow that he would make 100 stone statues. He made 107 stone statues between 1722 and 1732. He died in 1732. The 100th statue was in Ōjō-in Temple in Kumamoto, and it was the largest statue (186 centimetres (73 in) high) among others standing on the big stone lotus.

## Stone statues

Most common are standing or sitting statues of Ksitigarbha with a monk's staff in the right hand and Cintamani in the left hand. There are other types of statues, such as Amitabha, Guanyin, Avalokitesvara, Bhaisajyaguru and mixtures of these statues. The height differs from the size of a person to 50 centimetres (20 in). Behind each statue is a boat-shaped Aureola on which is written "Tariki" ("Through the Buddha") and the sequence number of his statue such as the 100th, and the petitioner is Hōgyū.

## Another opinion

Hideo Nagata studied every statue of Hōgyū and stated that the Hōgyū was not the boy whose father was killed. The statues might be connected with the circumstances of the time such as famine.

## Table of Hōgyū Jizō

| Number of production | Location | Kind of stone statue | Date of production and features such as engraved sentences |
| 1 | Idenakama | Sitting Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | May 1722, Hōgyū's determination of making Ksitigabha statues which leads to live in a country of comfort. |
| 2 | Chikami-machi | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1722 with Douka |
| 3 | A park near Chorokubashi and Taiheibashi | Standing Ksitigarbha | In 1723 with Douka |
| 4 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 5 | Hanaokayama road | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | In 1723, with Douka |
| 6 | Ikedamachi, Ōjō-in Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Namaste hands | In July 1723 with Douka |
| 7 | Tsuboi 4choume, Soushinji Temple | Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand. | With Douka |
| 8 | (A) Shimasaki 6chome, and (B) Shimasaki 5 chome | (A) Standing Ksitigarbha and (B) Standing Amitabha | In December 1723 with Douka |
| 9 | Kasuga 3chome | Standing Amitabha | February 1724 |
| 10 | Kuhonji 1chome | Standing Ksitigarbha | Disappeared after raid |
| 11 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 12 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 13 | Kasuga 3chome | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | May |
| 14 | Murozono 2chome | Standing Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | May, 1724 with Douka |
| 15 | Kyomachi 1chome, Aizomein Temple | Standing Gautama Buddha statue | Moved due to road construction |
| 16 | Saikumachi 4chome, Souzenji Temple | No statue, only footstone | July, 1724 |
| 17 | Kinpozan Daishogun | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | August |
| 18 | Shimizumachi Tatsushoji Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | Douka |
| 19 | Suizenji 4chome Watarize | Destroyed in raid, renewed | Doka on footstone |
| 20 | Kon-yamachi 3chome Shimogawara Park | Standing Ksitigarbha with a flag on the right hand, Globus cruciger on the left | Douka |
| 21 | Matsuo-machi | Standing Avalokitesvara | Douka |
| 22 | Ikeda 1chome Ikeda Hachiman | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | January, 1725, Douka |
| 23 | Hokubucho Kusuhara | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | July, 1725, Discovered in 1990 |
| 24 | Akitamachi Goto | Standing Amitabha | Unreadable Douka |
| 25 | Yokote 4chome | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | August, 1725 with Douka |
| 26 | Kurokami 7chome Uruge | Standing 11 faced Guanyin with Censer | No Douka |
| 27 | Near Chorokubashi | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | No footstone |
| 28 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 29 | Oe 1chome Zenkoji Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | Douka |
| 30 | Hokubucho shimosuzurikawa(A),Tasaki Bridge(B) | Gautama Buddha statue(A)Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand(B) | Jan. 1726(B),Douka(A) |
| 31 | Hokubucho Kitasako | Standing Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand | July, 1726, with 8 names |
| 32 | Hokubucho Kajio | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September, 1726 with 14 names, Confirmed in 1990 |
| 33 | Yokotecho Shihoike | Standing Amitabha with stone crown | Unreadable Douka |
| 34 | Ikedacho Ikegami | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | No footstone |
| 35 | Asogun Kikinomura | Standing Amitabha | Douka, discovered in 1985 |
| 36 | Uekimachi Mukausaka | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | May, 1727 with Douka |
| 37 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 38 | Yokotecho Higashi Shihouike | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | June 1727 with Douka |
| 39 | Nihongi 3chome | Sitting Bhaisajyaguru | September |
| 40 | (A)Kikuchi-gun Shisuimachi (B)Kawachi-machi Odao | (A)(B)Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | (A)Road Directing Post;Right is Waifu Town, February 1728 |
| 41 | Kawachimachi Iwashita | Stupa and no statue | Douka, Road Directing Post |
| 42 | Daniyama, Disappeared by air raid | Unknown | Unknown |
| 43 | Mukaemachi 1chome | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | Road Direction Post (Satsuma and Hyuga) |
| 44 | shimizu Honmachi, Takaba Road | Standing Ksitigarbha with Namaste hands | April 1728 with Douka |
| 45 | Kotohira 2chome | Destroyed in air raid, parts remain | May 1728 |
| 46 | Shin-yashiki 1chome Kongoji Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha but disappeared due to raid | June 1728 with Douka |
| 47 | Kurokami 2chome, near Seiseiko | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | July 1728 with Douka |
| 48 | Kasuga 2chome | Sitting Amitabha | September 1728 |
| 49 | Hokubumachi Hida | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1728,Crossroad pointing to Waifu and Kino |
| 50 | Kikuchi-gun, Shisuimachi | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | Road Direction Post pointing to Kumamoto |
| 51 | Kikuchi-gun, Hichijomachi Kae | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1728 with Douka |
| 52 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 53 | Kotohira Honcho | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | Road Direction Post pointing to Mifune |
| 54 | Ikeda 1chome | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | January 1729 |
| 55 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 56 | Mukaemachi, near Chorokubashi | Standing Ksitigarbha | Douka |
| 57 | Ozawamachi Seikoji Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger| | March 1729 |
| 58 | Kasuga 2chome | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | 1729 |
| 59 | Kikuchi-gun Hichijo-machi, Mizushima | A mixture of 11 faced Guanyin and Amitabha | Road Direction Post pointing to Waifu |
| 60 | Motoyamacho, (now) Rendaiji-cho,now | Sitting Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand | February 1729 with Douka |
| 61 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 62 | Yahatamachi Kawashiri Shrine | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1729 |
| 63 | Kawachimachi Seita | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | August 1729 |
| 64 | Shimomashiki-gun, Tomiaimachi Kihara Fudoson | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1729 |
| 65 | Nishigoshicho, Nonoshima, Yagu Shrine | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1729 with Douka |
| 66 | Kikuchi-gun, Kikuyocho, Haramizu, | Standing Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand | September 1729 |
| 67 | Tsuboi 5chome | No statue due to raid but only footstone remains | October 1729 with Douka |
| 68 | Tasaki Crossing near Kumamoto Station | Disappeared | Disappeared |
| 69 | Honjo 2chome Kasuga Sekkyosho | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | October 1729 with Douka |
| 70 | Chisoku Temple but disappeared in raid | Disappeared | Disappeared |
| 71 | Ikeda 1chome Iwatate | Previously Nyoirin-Kannon(air raid and replaced by another) | December 1729 with Douka |
| 72 | Tamana-gun, Gyokuto machi Harakura Honmachi | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | January 17 Rediscovered in 1990 |
| 73 | Yokote 3chome | Sitting Amitabha | February 1730 with Douka (in Document) |
| 74 | Inside a rock of Ueki town | Sitting Amitabha | March 1730 with Douka |
| 75 | Nishigoshi town Kuroishi | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | March 1715 with Douka |
| 76 | Tamana-gun Nagashu machi Ishimiya | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | April 1730 with Douka, Jizō Festival observed |
| 77 | Kamimashiki-gun, Mashiki-machi Koga | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | May 1730 Jizō Festival observed |
| 78 | Ikeda 1chome | Parts remaining due to raid | March 1730 |
| 79 | Kasuga 3chome | Standing Ksitigarbha | Douka |
| 80 | Hokubu machi Kamao, Inside wall | Standing Ksitigarbha | September |
| 81 | Kamoto-gun Kikukacho, Terada | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1730, Discovered in 1973 |
| 82 | Senba machi | Standing Avalokitesvara | Douka, Jizō festival observed |
| 83 | Uki city Matsubara machi, Seian Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | December 1730, Discovered in 1986 |
| 84 | Kawachi machi Node | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | January 1731, Discovered in 1983 |
| 85 | Matsuo machi Chikazu | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | January 1731 |
| 86 | Shimasaki 2chome | Sitting Amitabha | February 1731 |
| 87 | Kawashiri machi Oowatari Park | Sitting Amitabha | March 1731, Discovered in 1982, Jizō festival observed |
| 88 | Takahashi machi Tensha Shrine | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | April 1731 |
| 89 | Tosaka machi Community Center | Standing 11-faced Guanyin | May 1731 with Douka |
| 90 | Ozawa machi Seifukuji Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the left hand | 1731, the biggest among Hōgyū Jizōs |
| 91 | Ikegami cho | Sitting Amitabha | June 1731 |
| 92 | Oe 4chome Korenori Shrine | A mixture of Guanyin and Ksitigarbha | May 1731 with Douka |
| 93 | Ezu, Nakanose, | Sitting Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | July 1731 |
| 94 | Hokubucho Otsuka | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | 1731 with Douka, Jizō festival observed |
| 95 | Toshima machi Kitamuku | Sitting Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1731 |
| 96 | Hokubucho Akinamazu | Guanyin on the head part, and otherwise, standing Amitabha | October 1731 with Douka |
| 97 | Kawachi machi Kuroishi | Sitting Ksitigarbha on rock | Douka, Discovered in 1982 |
| 98 | Kamimashiki-gun, Yabe machi Uehata | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | November 1731, Jizō festival observed. Discovered in 1975 |
| 99 | Ikegamicho, Taniozaki | Sitting Amitabha | November 1731 with Douka |
| 100 | Ikeda 2chome, Ojoin Temple | Sitting Ksitigarbha with Khakkhara on the right hand and Globus cruciger on the big stone lotus | 1732, The 100th statue with Douka |
| 101 | Undiscovered | Undiscovered | Undiscovered |
| 102 | Kawachi machi, Tomon Temple | Standing Avalokitesvara over the neck and Amitabha under the neck | April 1732 with Douka |
| 103 | Kamimashikigun, Kashima-machi Namazu, Koon Temple | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | April 1732, Douka unclear, Discovered in 1974, Hougyu festival observed |
| 104 | Chikami-machi | Only footstone, which served two Hōgyū Jizōs | Discovered in 1970 |
| 105 | Hieda-machi, Hieda-kannondo | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | August 1732 |
| 106 | Tsunoura-cho, Community Center | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | September 1732 |
| 107 | Kamimashiki-gun, Mashiki-cho, Tanigo Community Center | Standing Ksitigarbha with Globus cruciger | October 1732 with Douka |
| Others | Kasugamachi and other places | Various kinds of Hōgyū Jizōs | There are 8 Hōgyū Jizōs without numbers, In one, 1726 |
| Grave of Hōgyū | Yokote 5 chome | Sitting monk-shaped statue with Khakkhara on the right hand and Buddhist prayer beads on the left hand | Dated November 8, 1732 by the builder of the grave. Discovered in 1938 |

## Poems

The following are douka, or didactic poems, of Hōgyū:
   Those who are rich and those who are not, differ in the present world, but they are the same after death. (19th statue)
   You who speak to us, and we who are spoken to, both are of transient existence like dreams. (75th statue)
   A cow without a bridle (Hōgyū) which carries Sattva on its back, leads people to a country of Buddha. (38th, 67th, 71st, 73rd, and 74th statues)
   Hōgyū is like a bathhouse, the people in the world are like those who bath in the bathhouse. (14th statue)
   A burglar and I who met burglary, are the same on the same Padma (attribute). (22nd statue)
   A break comes, which leads us to the future, not the past; come rain any time, blow wind at any time. (3rd statue)
   In the present world, like both sides of leaves which receive wind, things go in one way or another. (29th statue)
   People' tongue is sweet, like candy or sugar or licorice; Amitabha is not sweet, though not outspoken. (60th statue)
   If you ask me what I am, I will answer either I am mountain or river, but if you ask me what my heart is, I do not know how to answer. (24th statue)
   Before bowing Kami or Buddha, you should bow your parents, there is nothing like parents, who are like Buddha. (41st, 44th and 51st stone statues.)