The two Chinese characters in the word Mizu-ko are literally
translated "water" and "baby". It is the term used in Japan to
describe the spirit of a child that has died inutero through
miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion. There is no equivalent
English word for an unborn foetus. I found it comforting to be
able to put such a beautiful word to my lost one. The two
Chinese characters in the word Ku-yo are literally translated as
"to offer" and "to nourish". In Japan, the word Kuyo refers to a
ritual or ceremony. Therefore the expression Mizuko Kuyo refers
to a ceremony that acknowledges the loss of infants that have
died inutero through miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion.
Buddhist monks conduct Mizuko Kuyo ceremonies in Zen Buddhist
temples. The central element to the Mizuko Kuyo ceremony is a
figure of Mizuko Jizo (see below). When I visited Japan, I met a
monk who was pleased to know that I was inspired by their
tradition. He said the only requirement for the Mizuko Kuyo
ceremony is that the mother says a pr