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Shrines for deceased children

Japanese translation: 水子供養堂

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Shrines for deceased children
Japanese translation:水子供養堂
Entered by: humbird

04:17 Feb 3, 2006
English to Japanese translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: Shrines for deceased children
Hello. Happy Setsubun.

In Japan, I was wondering what the shrines/statues for deceased children are called in Japanese?

Also, I was wondering what sort of prayers, etc. are done at these statues/shrines? For example, if a young woman had a mother who died in childbirth along with the child, would she go to such a shrine and pray for her deceased mother and little sister, or only pray for the deceased child?

Thank you.
conejo
United States
Local time: 21:48
水子供養堂
Explanation:
Another answerer has raised a question that you are talking about "shrine" and not "temple". As I commented to the answerer (sorry I cannot see her name as I am typing this), I don't think it is an issue. That is because I believe what you meant is "where those unborns are enshrined AND honored".
So here is my answer.
Also, please see following links.

http://www.enmanji.com/mizuko.html

http://farstrider.net/Japan/Kyoto/Sanjusangendo.htm

By the way, both are Buddhist buildings, one is for Jizou-sama, another is for "Kannon-sama". The former is guardian of children (equivlaent of St Nicolas of Christian tradition), the latter is for more general population. Nonetheless the latter is in most cases translated as "goddess of mercy". As such this goddess is also takes pitty on such innocent souls as unborns.

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Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2006-02-06 23:20:08 GMT)
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My answer "Mizuko Kuyou Dou" means "a building where unborns are enshrined and honored".
Selected response from:

humbird
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone. Your answers were very helpful; I wish I could divide the points. I apologize for the confusion about "shrine"... I meant "shrine" in the general sense in English, as a place people go to pray, not as 神社、but I should have been clearer on that point.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5水子供養堂
humbird
4 +1水子観音
snowiee (X)
4地蔵菩薩
cinefil
1 -1地蔵
Maynard Hogg


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
shrines for deceased children
地蔵菩薩


Explanation:
For praying a safe delivery we go to shrine and temple.
But mainly we go to a temple to pray for the deceaded chirdren and/or mother.


''It is a custom to pray for a safe delivery and support during childrearing and go to a temple or shrine to buy a special talisman for this purpose. During the Edo period, raising a healthy child was quite a different undertaking from now, so people made an annual visit to a temple to pray, until the child was 13 years.''
http://www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Anzan -Daruma.html


    Reference: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/jizo-bosatsu-japan.sht...
cinefil
Japan
Local time: 11:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Masami Matsuyuki: One 地蔵菩薩 particularly for deceased children is 水子地蔵.
7 hrs
disagree  snowiee (X): many ppl are mixed up shirine and temple....it's okay but Jizo belongs temple,
3 days 10 hrs
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3 days 18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
shrines for deceased children
水子供養堂


Explanation:
Another answerer has raised a question that you are talking about "shrine" and not "temple". As I commented to the answerer (sorry I cannot see her name as I am typing this), I don't think it is an issue. That is because I believe what you meant is "where those unborns are enshrined AND honored".
So here is my answer.
Also, please see following links.

http://www.enmanji.com/mizuko.html

http://farstrider.net/Japan/Kyoto/Sanjusangendo.htm

By the way, both are Buddhist buildings, one is for Jizou-sama, another is for "Kannon-sama". The former is guardian of children (equivlaent of St Nicolas of Christian tradition), the latter is for more general population. Nonetheless the latter is in most cases translated as "goddess of mercy". As such this goddess is also takes pitty on such innocent souls as unborns.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2006-02-06 23:20:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My answer "Mizuko Kuyou Dou" means "a building where unborns are enshrined and honored".

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone. Your answers were very helpful; I wish I could divide the points. I apologize for the confusion about "shrine"... I meant "shrine" in the general sense in English, as a place people go to pray, not as 神社、but I should have been clearer on that point.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): -1
shrines for deceased children
地蔵


Explanation:
Perhaps the most famous collection for 水子 variety is at Kamakura's 長谷寺.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2006-02-03 04:33:27 GMT)
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http://images.google.com/images?num=100&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all...

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Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2006-02-06 01:29:58 GMT)
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Closer to home:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/search/tags:地蔵/

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Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2006-02-06 01:31:56 GMT)
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There are also roadside 地蔵 statues for travelers—at the sites of traffic accidents, for example.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2006-02-06 23:39:24 GMT)
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Ms. Yoshida: Open your eyes. My name is to the upper right of this box. Unlike many here, I don't believe in hiding behind by a screen handle. Translation has been my full-time occupation for 26 years now.

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Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2006-02-06 23:48:29 GMT)
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Shrine vs. temple: The original post reflects a common confusion in English. The little building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/50420466/) housing a 地蔵 is commonly called a "roadside *shrine*"--because it's not big enough to hold people, I assume.

http://www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Anzan -Daruma.html says "13 benevolent deities that would later help the soul of the deceased to make its way through the various courts and judgements of hell." This is a reference to the thirteen Buddhas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Buddhas), "a Japanese grouping of mostly non-Buddhas: 不動(Fudō = Acala), 釈迦(Shaka = Sakyamuni), 文殊(Monju = Manjushri), 普賢(Fugen = Samantabhadra), 地蔵(Jizō = Ksitigarbha), 弥勒(Miroku = Maitreya), 薬師(Yakushi = Bhaisajyaguru), 観音(Kannon = Avalokitesvara), 勢至(Seishi = Mahasthamaprapta), 阿弥陀(Amida = Amitabha), 阿閃く(Ashuku = Akshobhya), 大日(Dainichi = Vairocana), and 虚空蔵(Kokūzō = Akasagarbha).

Maynard Hogg
Canada
Local time: 19:48
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  snowiee (X): According to shrine person, 地蔵　is for temple, not shrine.Askers topic is about shrine. And can u write your name?
2 days 20 hrs
  -> Huh? The last time I was there (GW), 長谷寺 was a temple, not a shrine.
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1 day 17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
shrines for deceased children
水子観音


Explanation:
Undelivered children in any way are usually called 水子. Sad story.

http://www.daikannon.or.jp/moushikomi/mizuko_01.html
大観音寺では、水子三観音霊場を併設し高さ5メートルの水子観音さま3躰を安置して、水子供養を行っております。 水子供養の水子一霊につき二基の屏牌をつくり、一基を当寺観音殿に安置し、永代にわたり法要をいたします。

Also, There is a reference below, at Hyogo temple. In Japan, both are important for usual ppl.
-----------------
水子供養(塔婆供養)

一霊　xxxx円 塔婆供養
・本堂にて一霊ごと読経供養後、水子地蔵尊前にて焼香・水向供養いたします。
--------------

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Note added at 1 day18 hrs (2006-02-04 22:26:11 GMT)
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There may be 3 statues according to the Daikanji in Mie Pref.
To pray is usually kept inside. We do "gassyo" and just pray. Do not know what priests do.　I'm asking to other shrine near here, as there are not so many googits.
http://www.daikannon.or.jp/top0.html

<水子三観音>とは
●慈母水子観音 ―現世の両親に代って慈愛の心で育まれる観音さまです。
●聖水子観音 ― 水子に降りかかる悪魔を退治され、守って下さる観音さまです。
●大悲水子観音 ― 摂取不捨、どの水子ももれなく救済し極楽往生させて下さる観音さまです。

To make the story complicated, 慈母観音　seems to belong to temple.

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Note added at 2 days20 hrs (2006-02-06 00:41:13 GMT)
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According to shrine near here, kannon is usually for temple. Because until 100 years ago, temple and shrine were combined(that's why story is s congused). BTW, statue of safe delivery is called 水天宮.

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Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2006-02-07 03:02:57 GMT)
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Jinjya Honcyo says there's no such god or statue. Perhaps 水天宮 could be the answer, so I'm calling to "Suitengu" near here.


    Reference: http://homepage2.nifty.com/chorakuji/mizukokuyou.html
snowiee (X)
Local time: 11:48
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maynard Hogg: 恥ずかしい話ですが、abortedだけでなく、stillbornも含まれていることを知ったのは今年のGWでした。写真をとるだけでなく、メモととれ！　Take both photos and notes is my new motto!
1 day 3 hrs
  -> ありがとうございます。また協力しましょうね。
neutral  humbird: In general "temple" is for Buddhism, "shrine" is for Shitonism (in Japanese society). In this case such argument (of differences) is pointless as both Kannon and Jizo are of Buddhist trandition.
2 days 1 hr
  -> Susan, until 100 years ago, temple and shrine were combined(that's why story is s congused).
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