Hundreds of statues with hats

In many Japanese Buddhist temples, you will notice rows of dozens or even hundreds of cute stone statues, "dressed" with bibs, various hats and beads... Usually the garments are red, because in the Japanese tradition red is the color used to ward off evil spirits and to cure illness.

At the first glance, it is quite a cheerful view, filled with cuteness. But actually it has a very sad role: the statues are representing Jizo Bosatsu (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva), the guardian of children in the Japanese tradition... The Jizo statues are cute, because they are made to resemble the protected children, but the garments are usually offered by grieving parents, as part of the prayers for the lost children... However, there's also a slightly brighter side: sometimes, the garments are offered by parents as thanks to Jizo for saving their children from a life-threatening illness.