Jizo at Hachiman gu, Kamakura

Jizo at Hachiman gu, Kamakura, originally uploaded by miquel_martin.

Jizō is a Japanese divinity that takes care of children that passed away before their parents: by hiding the kids in his robes, he manages to save their souls on the way to the afterlife. It is therefore common to see Jizō statues in cemeteries and temples, like this one at the Hachiman gu shrine in Kamakura, Japan. Grieving parents will often clothe the statuette in order to favor their lost child. No, it's not a funny picture! This must be my most misunderstood picture ever...

Jizō es una deitat japonesa que es fa càrrec dels nens que han mort abans que els seus pares: tot amagant-los a les seves vestidures, intenta salvar les seves animes de cami al mes enllà. Per tot plegat, es normal veure estatuetes de Jizō a cementiris i temples, com ara aquesta a Hachiman gu shrine in Kamakura, Japó. Aquesta estatueta, probablement, ha estat vestida per pares en dol, per tal d'afavorir la criatura. No, no és pas una foto divertida! Segurament no he fet mai cap foto mes malinterpretada que aquesta!

If you'd like some more info on this picture, there's a bunch of extra details in flickr.