清七地獄から、国道を渡り満明寺への参道右手に多くの仏像がある場所が、賽の河原（さいのかわら）です。
　冥土の世界における賽の河原は、三途の川のほとりにあり、親より先に死んでしまった子供たちが、石を積み上げる場所とされています。
　理由はどうあれ、親より先に死に、親に深い悲しみを負わせた罪のために川を渡れず、その償いのために小石を永遠に積み、塔を作ろうとするのですが、石を積んだ途端、すぐに地獄の鬼がきて塔を壊してしまいます。
　仏教説話では、この最後に地蔵菩薩が現れ、こうした哀れな子供たちを救うとされています。
雲仙の賽の河原でも、そうした説話にならったためか、周囲にはキリスト教徒によって悲惨に破壊された仏像が多く点在しています。

★ 英語バージョン
　Just down the road from Manmyōji’s ancient gate posts, you will see many small, almost childlike statues. These are images of Jizo, one of the most beloved Buddhist figures in Japan.
　In Buddhist tradition, children who die are sent to the underworld, where they are unable to cross the River of Three Crossings because they have not performed enough good acts—in particular, acts of filial piety. Trapped, they sit naked along a sandy beach called the Sai no Kawara, where their only way of honoring their parents is to endlessly stack small rocks into stupas that are soon knocked down by the demons who torment them.
　It is Jizo who comes to their rescue, protecting them in the folds of his robe and helping them on their way to paradise. For this reason, Jizo statues can be seen all over Japan, often wearing a red hat or bib and accompanied with small piles of stones or even toys. Parents will often leave these offerings in sorrow over their child’s death—or in thanks for their having overcome an illness.