Ksitigarbha is the Mahayana bodhisattva known for vowing not to attain Buddhahood until all hells are empty.
Primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism, Ksitigarbha is called Dizang in Chinese, Jizo in Japanese, Jijang in Korean, and Dia Tang in Vietnamese traditions. His name is commonly translated as “Earth Treasury,” “Earth Store,” or “Earth Womb.” His great vow makes him a compassionate guide for beings suffering in the six realms between the death of Gautama Buddha and the future arrival of Maitreya.
Ksitigarbha is usually shown as a shaven-headed monk rather than a jeweled princely bodhisattva. He carries a ringed staff, traditionally used to open the gates of hell, and a wish-fulfilling jewel that symbolizes illuminating or granting salvation. In Japan, he is especially associated with children, travelers, and memorials for deceased children.
A common mix-up is Avalokiteshvara, or Guanyin, whose central role is responding to cries of suffering. Ksitigarbha’s signature concern is the liberation and protection of beings in difficult realms, especially hell-beings.