Jizo; one of the most beloved Buddhist deities in Japan; is known primarily as the guardian of children and travelers. In coastal areas; fishermen and swimmers also look to him for protection. Soon after their arrival in the late 1800s; issei (first-generation Japanese) shoreline fishermen began casting for ulua on Hawai‘i’s treacherous sea cliffs; where they risked being swept off the rocky ledges. In response to numerous drownings; Jizo statues were erected near dangerous fishing and swimming sites; including popular Bamboo Ridge; near the Blowhole in Hawai‘i Kai; Kawaihapai Bay in Mokule‘ia; and Kawailoa Beach in Hale‘iwa. Guardian of the Sea tells the story of a compassionate group of men who raised these statues as a service to their communities.Written by an authority on Hawai‘i’s beaches and water safety; Guardian of the Sea shines a light on a little-known facet of Hawai‘i’s past. It incorporates valuable firsthand accounts taken from interviews with nisei (second-generation) fishermen and residents and articles from Japanese language newspapers dating as far back as the early 1900s. In addition to background information on Jizo as a guardian deity and historical details on Jizo statues in Hawai‘i; the author discusses shorecasting techniques and organizations; which once played a key role in the lives of local Japanese. Although shorecasting today is done more for sport than subsistence; it remains an important ocean activity in the Islands.In examining Jizo and the lives of issei; Guardian of the Sea makes a significant contribution to our understanding of recent Hawai‘i history.
#4487814 in Books Univ of Hawaii Pr 1990-10Original language:JapanesePDF # 1 9.75 x 6.50 x 1.25l; #File Name: 0824812034428 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Thiago SilvaThis is a textbook work -- I think the author wrote this to have material for his students -- so it does have a more fluid reading than other scholar works. Dr. Hirakawa was an eminent buddhism scholar. This makes for a great summary on the early and sectarian history of buddhism (along with A. K. Warder's "Indian Buddhism")0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. It is a rather old Edition! It is of ...By HAI V NGUYENIt is a rather old Edition! It is of the year 1990 (reprint 1998) not as the new 2007 edition as shown in the picture!
