This project was described in my syllabus as follows:

Making Your Own Personalized ema to “Manabi Jizô” or “The Jizô of Learning” to enshrine at the Northcountry Japanese garden. Ema or votive tablets are a key ritual object in popular Buddhism. They are purchased by temple parishioners to use when they have prayer requests to a buddha or bodhisattva who is enshrined in the temple. The faith is that these divinities have the power to give “this worldly benefits” to those who worship them (especially via their miracle working icons). We will also have a calligraphy workshop with to learn
how to write Japanese characters. On Thursday, December 4th we will have an in class workshop where you draw and design your own ema, write your prayer
request and enshrine it in the Northcountry Japanese garden, where a status of
Jizô is now enshrined. One of you will make a scalar record of this to be
published on the class cloud ebook.

Who is, after all "Manabi Jizô"?

Enso Workshop


The Ema project began with an Enso workshop, where the students were able to work with Kaz Takahashi on creating their own enso. While the enso is not in direct relation to the production of the Jizo, the meaning of the enso provided essential background on the ideals of Mahayana Buddhism, and the culture behind Jizo in the religion.
In simple terms, the enso symbolizes absolute enlightenment and strength. Going through the process of drawing an enso, allows us to understand the importance of visual culture in Mahayana Buddhism, which connects us to the meaning of the Jizo in a more personal sense.
This picture capures Kaz Takahashi explaining the steps behind the creation of an enso, and the specific form, breath pattern, and strokes that are necessary to capture the Buddhist ideals in the art.

From the Enso to “The Jizô of Learning”


This is a picture of the finished product, including the St. Lawrence University stamp. With over one hundred made, the plan is to have the rest available to St. Lawrence students in some way, and added to the Zen garden.


Once we finished, the students got to work with designing the back of their own Ema.

Hanging the Ema


Once the class finished making their Ema's, representing the Jizô of learning, in preparation for final exams, the class took a trip to the Zen garden on campus to hang their work and inspiration.
This picture shows the students hanging their Ema's on St. Lawrence's newest addition to the Zen garden. The class was the first to contribute their Ema's, and will hopefully be the pioneers of a tradition that continues on; enlightening others of the ideals and cultural foundations of Buddhism.

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