Kṣitigarbha

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Kṣitigarbha (Skt., ‘womb of the earth’; Korean, Chijang). In Buddhism a bodhisattva who is believed to help children (especially deceased children) and to be a saviour from the torments of hell (naraka). In China he is known as Tits'ang and is represented as a monk holding a staff with six bells (to indicate his power in the six realms of the Kamaloka (see LOKA). In Japan, he is known as Jizō, and is of particular importance.

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