Buddhism and Jizo (Tomas Gösta Tranströmer)

The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi delves into the spiritual essence of Buddhism, drawing inspiration from the gentle figure of Jizō (Ojizō-sama)—protector of souls and guide of the lost. Her work becomes a quiet meditation, where the sacred and the personal converge.

In a striking cultural dialogue, Utsumi weaves this imagery with the evocative poetry of Tomas Gösta Tranströmer, the Swedish Nobel laureate whose words echo with introspection and stillness. Through this fusion of visual and literary art, she bridges two distant worlds—Japan and Scandinavia—uniting them through a shared reverence for silence, suffering, and the human spirit.

As Nichiren, the 13th-century Buddhist monk, once said: “If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way.”

In Utsumi’s art, each lantern becomes both offering and reflection—illuminating the path between cultures, beliefs, and time.

In part of the poem below by Tomas Gösta Tranströmer – he wrote:

Despondency breaks off its course.
Anguish breaks off its course.
The vulture breaks off its flight.

The eager light streams out,
even the ghosts take a draught.

Each man is a half-open door
leading to a room for everyone.

Tranströmer also wrote: “In the middle of life, death comes to take your measurements. The visit is forgotten and life goes on. But the suit is being sewn on the sly.”

At its core, the art of Utsumi and the words of Tranströmer both seek to unveil the deeper layers of existence. In their union, a quiet dialogue unfolds—where introspection meets imagery, and the profound becomes tangible. Also, the “ghost” who helped to unite is but a shadow in this article!

Through this lens of creativity, the entanglement of cultures comes alive—not as a clash, but as a delicate weaving of spirit and silence, memory and meaning. And long after each voice has fallen silent, long after brush and pen are laid to rest, the gentle figure of Jizō will continue to stand—dotting the landscape of Japan, watching over travelers and souls, a timeless witness to the impermanence of life and the endurance of compassion.

Written by Lee Jay Walker

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-buddhist-lantern-of-life-and-jizo-sawako-utsumi.html The Buddhist Lantern of Life and Jizo

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/jizo-and-the-buddhist-lantern-of-life-sawako-utsumi.html Jizo and the Buddhist Lantern of Life

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-blossoming-of-life-before-the-leaves-fall-sawako-utsumi.html – The Blossoming of Life before the Leaves Fall

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-blossoming-of-life-before-the-shadow-sawako-utsumi.html – The Blossoming of Life before the Shadow by Sawako Utsumi

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/jizo-and-the-buddhist-lantern-of-life-sawako-utsumi.htmlJizo and the Buddhist Lantern of Life

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sawako-utsumi.html – Sawako Utsumi and where you can buy her art, postcards, bags, and other products. Also, individuals can contact her for individual requests.

http://sawakoart.com – Sawako Utsumi (website)