August 31, 20191 min read

Traveler's Guardian Deity

Along my merry way in my neighborhood, I am always entreated by these Deities guarding the traveler. And indeed, for the thoughtfulness of the ones who created and set up these in order to "guard and protect" the wary travelers on the way.

A small wooden roadside shrine sheltering a white stone figure beside a country path.

A row of weathered stone deities and markers standing along a grassy bank in the sun.

道祖神、どうそしん (dousoshin),
塞の神、さいのかみ (sainokami),
障の神、どうそじん (dousojin),
さえのかみ (saenokami)

A moss-covered stone deity at the edge of a narrow road through a cedar forest.

Three carved stone figures on plinths among fallen leaves.

A single stone figure, its carving softened by age, on a lichen-covered base.

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