Spatial Structure of Japanese Religion - Geography of Religion in Japan: Religious Space, Landscape, and Behavior - page 84

Fig. 3.27 Religious landscapes in the Konomata district, Tsukuba City, 1995 (The author's fi eld
survey in September, 1995)
disease, is called Yakushi-sama . Similarly, a stone statue of Jizo-son , who is
believed to help ensure a smooth delivery during birth, was called Jizo-sama .
Pregnant women visited the statue daily. The place where Yakushi nyorai was
worshipped is now used as a community center. The site was a temple until
1868, when the anti-Buddhist movement in Japan destroyed many Buddhist
temples.
In January, a large amulet called tsujifuda was positioned at both crossroads,
in a religious rite called Michikiri . People set up the amulet to pray to prevent
outside disasters. There are other small shrines in the south called Tenjin, Atago,
and Dorokujin that are the kami of some pioneer families in Konomata
district.