Jizō Bosatsu 1667 - 1698

Hanabusa Itchō created this hanging scroll of Jizō Bosatsu, a Bodhisattva revered in Japanese Buddhism, during the Edo period. Itchō lived through an era marked by both artistic flourishing and strict social hierarchies. Observe how Jizō is rendered with serene features, seated on a lotus throne amidst swirling clouds, holding a staff and a wish-granting jewel. As a protector of travelers, women, and children, Jizō embodies compassion. Traditionally, Jizō is depicted as a monk, and here Itchō maintains that representation, yet infuses it with a gentle humanity. Itchō himself experienced the precariousness of social status, as he was exiled from Edo for satirizing the shogunate. This personal history perhaps attuned him to the vulnerabilities of those under Jizō’s care. This image serves not only as a religious icon, but as a reminder of the empathy that connects us, reflecting the artist’s life and the societal concerns of his time.