Shikoku Pilgrimage

The or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims, known as , still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic, pious, and tourism-related purposes. The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles, and often augment their travels with public transportation. The standard walking course is approximately long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete.

In addition to the 88 "official" temples of the pilgrimage, there are 20 temples, which are officially associated with the Shikoku Pilgrimage (and hundreds more temples, simply meaning "outside the numbers", which are not considered part of the official 88). To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some cases, pilgrims complete the journey in reverse, a practice known as .

is the Japanese word for pilgrim,Reader, Ian (2005). Making Pilgrimages: Meaning and Practice in Shikoku. University of Hawaii Press, p. 318. and the locals along the route address the pilgrims as . They are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-zue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai (お接待) are frequently given to pilgrims by Shikoku's residents.

Before reaching Temple 88, walking and bicycle pilgrims can receive a "Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Henro Ambassador" certificate from the Maeyama Ohenro Koryu Salon. At Temple 88, one can purchase a pilgrimage completion certificate called a , meaning "fulfillment of one's wishes." Many pilgrims also begin and complete the journey by visiting Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism. The walking trail up to Kōya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.

History

Background Pilgrimages have played an important part in Japanese religious practice since at least the Heian period. Typically centred upon holy mountains, particular divinities, or charismatic individuals, they are usually to Buddhist sites although those to the shrines of Kumano and Ise are notable exceptions.

Kōbō Daishi Kūkai, born at Zentsū-ji (Temple 75) in 774, studied in China, and upon his return was influential in the promotion of esoteric Buddhism. He established the Shingon retreat on Kōya-san, was an active writer, undertook a programme of public works, and during visits to the island of his birth is popularly said to have established or visited many of its temples and to have carved many of their images. He is posthumously known as Kōbō Daishi.

Development The legends and cult of Kōbō Daishi, such as the episode of Emon Saburō, were maintained and developed by the monks of Kōya-san who travelled to expound Shingon and were active, along with other hijiri, in Shikoku. In the Edo period, the policy of restricted and regulated the movement of ordinary people. Pilgrims were required to obtain travel permits, follow the main paths, and pass through localities within a certain time limit, with the book of temple stamps or nōkyō-chō helping to provide proof of passage.　

Practice

Stages Shikoku literally means "four provinces", those of Awa, Tosa, Iyo, and Sanuki, reorganized during the Meiji period into the prefectures of Tokushima, Kōchi, Ehime, and Kagawa. The pilgrim's journey through these four provinces is likened to a symbolic path to enlightenment, with temples 1–23 representing the idea of , 24–39 , 40–65 attaining , and 66–88 entering .

Equipment The pilgrim's traditional costume comprises a , , and . This may be supplemented by a . The henro also carries a containing , (also known as ), a to collect , , and . The more religiously-minded henro may also carry a and set with a bell.

Rites Upon arrival at each temple the henro washes before proceeding to the Hondō. After offering coins, incense, and the osame-fuda, the is chanted along with repetition of the Mantra of the and the . After kigan and ekō (prayers and dedication of merit), the henro proceeds to the . Coins and a fuda are similarly offered, and again the Heart Sutra is chanted, along with repetition of the Gohōgō Mantra, namu-Daishi-henjō-kongō.

UNESCO World Heritage Bid Since 2010, Shikoku's prefectural governments, NPO members, and local leaders have worked toward achieving UNESCO World Heritage status for the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Currently, it is recognized as a "Provisional Candidate" by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, or a cultural asset which has not yet been added to Japan's World Heritage Tentative List but which should 'proceed with preparations.'

Imitative versions Attesting to the popularity of the Shikoku pilgrimage, from the eighteenth century a number of smaller imitative versions have been established. These include a circuit on Shōdo Island northeast of Takamatsu; a course on the grounds of Ninna-ji in Kyoto; a route on the Chita Peninsula near Nagoya; and circuits in Edo and Chiba Prefecture. Outside Japan, another version is on the Hawaiʻi on the island of Kauai.

List of Main 88 Temples

Collectively, the 88 temples are known as .

No. Temple Honzon (main image) Location CoordinatesImage 1 Ryōzen-ji (霊山寺) Shaka Nyorai Naruto, Tokushima 2 Gokuraku-ji (極楽寺) Amida Nyorai Naruto, Tokushima 3 Konsen-ji (金泉寺) Shaka Nyorai Itano, Tokushima 4 Dainichi-ji (大日寺) Dainichi Nyorai Itano, Tokushima 5 Jizō-ji (地蔵寺) Enmei Jizō Bosatsu Itano, Tokushima 6 Anraku-ji (安楽寺) Yakushi Nyorai Kamiita, Tokushima 7 Jūraku-ji (十楽寺) Amida Nyorai Awa, Tokushima 8 Kumadani-ji (熊谷寺) Senju Kannon Awa, Tokushima 9 Hōrin-ji (法輪寺) Shaka Nyorai Awa, Tokushima 10 Kirihata-ji (切幡寺) Senju Kannon Awa, Tokushima 11 Fujii-dera (藤井寺) Yakushi Nyorai Yoshinogawa, Tokushima 12 Shōsan-ji (焼山寺) Kokūzō Bosatsu Kamiyama, Tokushima 13 Dainichi-ji (大日寺) Jūichimen Kannon Tokushima, Tokushima 14 Jōraku-ji (常楽寺) Miroku Bosatsu Tokushima, Tokushima 15 Awa Kokubun-ji (阿波国分寺) Yakushi Nyorai Tokushima, Tokushima 16 Kannon-ji (観音寺) Senju Kannon Tokushima, Tokushima 17 Ido-ji (井戸寺) Yakushi Nyorai Tokushima, Tokushima 18 Onzan-ji (恩山寺) Yakushi Nyorai Komatsushima, Tokushima 19 Tatsue-ji (立江寺) Jizō Bosatsu Komatsushima, Tokushima 20 Kakurin-ji (鶴林寺) Jizō Bosatsu Katsuura, Tokushima 21 Tairyū-ji (太龍寺) Kokūzō Bosatsu Anan, Tokushima 22 Byōdō-ji (平等寺) Yakushi Nyorai Anan, Tokushima 23 Yakuō-ji (薬王寺) Yakushi Nyorai Minami, Tokushima 24 Hotsumisaki-ji (最御崎寺) Kokūzō Bosatsu Muroto, Kōchi 25 Shinshō-ji (津照寺) Jizō Bosatsu Muroto, Kōchi 26 Kongōchō-ji (金剛頂寺) Yakushi Nyorai Muroto, Kōchi 27 Kōnomine-ji (神峰寺) Jūichimen Kannon Yasuda, Kōchi 28 Dainichi-ji (大日寺) Dainichi Nyorai Kōnan, Kōchi 29 Tosa Kokubun-ji (土佐国分寺) Senju Kannon Nankoku, Kōchi 30 Zenrakuji (善楽寺) Amida Nyorai Kōchi, Kōchi 31 Chikurin-ji (竹林寺) Monju Bosatsu Kōchi, Kōchi 32 Zenjibu-ji (禅師峰寺) Jūichimen Kannon Nankoku, Kōchi 33 Sekkei-ji (雪蹊寺) Yakushi Nyorai Kōchi, Kōchi 34 Tanema-ji (種間寺) Yakushi Nyorai Haruno, Kōchi 35 Kiyotaki-ji (清滝寺) Yakushi Nyorai Tosa, Kōchi 36 Shōryū-ji (青竜寺) Fudō Myōō Tosa, Kōchi 37 Iwamoto-ji (岩本寺) Five Buddhas Shimanto, Kōchi 38 Kongōfuku-ji (金剛福寺) Senju Kannon Tosashimizu, Kōchi 39 Enkōji (延光寺) Yakushi Nyorai Sukumo, Kōchi 40 Kanjizai-ji (観自在寺) Yakushi Nyorai Ainan, Ehime 41 Ryuukou-ji (竜光寺) Jūichimen Kannon Uwajima, Ehime 42 Butsumoku-ji (佛木寺) Dainichi Nyorai Uwajima, Ehime 43 Meiseki-ji (明石寺) Senju Kannon Seiyo, Ehime 44 Daihō-ji (大宝寺) Jūichimen Kannon Kumakōgen, Ehime 45 Iwaya-ji (岩屋寺) Fudō Myōō Kumakōgen, Ehime 46 Jōruri-ji (浄瑠璃寺) Yakushi Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 47 Yasaka-ji (八坂寺) Amida Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 48 Sairin-ji (西林寺) Jūichimen Kannon Matsuyama, Ehime 49 Jōdo-ji (浄土寺) Shaka Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 50 Hanta-ji (繁多寺) Yakushi Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 51 Ishite-ji (石手寺) Yakushi Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 52 Taisan-ji (太山寺) Jūichimen Kannon Matsuyama, Ehime 53 Enmyō-ji (圓明寺) Amida Nyorai Matsuyama, Ehime 54 Enmei-ji (延命寺) Fudō Myōō Imabari, Ehime 55 Nankōbō (南光坊) Daitsū-chishō Butsu Imabari, Ehime 56 Taisan-ji (泰山寺) Jizō Bosatsu Imabari, Ehime 57 Eifuku-ji (栄福寺) Amida Nyorai Imabari, Ehime 58 Senyū-ji (仙遊寺) Senjū Kannon Imabari, Ehime 59 Iyo Kokubun-ji (伊予国分寺) Yakushi Nyorai Imabari, Ehime 60 Yokomine-ji (横峰寺) Dainichi Nyorai Saijō, Ehime 61 Kōon-ji (香園寺) Dainichi Nyorai Saijō, Ehime 62 Hōju-ji (宝寿寺) Jūichimen Kannon Saijō, Ehime 63 Kichijō-ji (吉祥寺) Bishamonten Saijō, Ehime 64 Maegami-ji (前神寺) Amida Nyorai Saijō, Ehime 65 Sankaku-ji (三角寺) Jūichimen Kannon Shikokuchūō, Ehime 66 Unpen-ji (雲辺寺) Senju Kannon Miyoshi, Tokushima 67 Daikō-ji (大興寺) Yakushi Nyorai Mitoyo, Kagawa 68 Jinne-in (神恵院) Amida Nyorai Kan'onji, Kagawa 69 Kannon-ji (観音寺) Shō Kannon Kan'onji, Kagawa 70 Motoyama-ji (本山寺) Batō Kannon Mitoyo, Kagawa 71 Iyadani-ji (弥谷寺) Senju Kannon Mitoyo, Kagawa 72 Mandara-ji (曼荼羅寺) Dainichi Nyorai Zentsūji, Kagawa 73 Shusshakaji (出釈迦寺) Shaka Nyorai Zentsūji, Kagawa 74 Kōyama-ji (甲山寺) Yakushi Nyorai Zentsūji, Kagawa 75 Zentsū-ji (善通寺) Yakushi Nyorai Zentsūji, Kagawa 76 Konzō-ji (金倉寺) Yakushi Nyorai Zentsūji, Kagawa 77 Dōryū-ji (道隆寺) Yakushi Nyorai Tadotsu, Kagawa 78 Gōshō-ji (郷照寺) Amida Nyorai Utazu, Kagawa 79 Tennō-ji (天皇寺) Jūichimen Kannon Sakaide, Kagawa 80 Sanuki Kokubun-ji (讃岐国分寺) Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon Takamatsu, Kagawa 81 Shiromine-ji (白峯寺) Senju Kannon Sakaide, Kagawa 82 Negoro-ji (根香寺) Senju Kannon Takamatsu, Kagawa 83 Ichinomiya-ji (一宮寺) Shō Kannon Takamatsu, Kagawa 84 Yashima-ji (屋島寺) Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon Takamatsu, Kagawa 85 Yakuri-ji (八栗寺) Shō Kannon Takamatsu, Kagawa 86 Shido-ji (志度寺) Jūichimen Kannon Sanuki, Kagawa 87 Nagao-ji (長尾寺) Shō Kannon Sanuki, Kagawa 88 Ōkubo-ji (大窪寺) Yakushi Nyorai Sanuki, Kagawa

List of 20 Bekkaku Temples +NumberTemple NameLocationImage1 (大山寺)Kamiita, Tokushima2Dōgaku-ji (童学寺)Ishii, Tokushima3 (慈眼寺)Kamikatsu, Tokushima4 (八坂寺)Kaiyō, Tokushima5 (大善寺)Susaki, Kouchi6(龍光院)Uwajima, Ehime7(出石寺)Oozushi, Ehime8 (永徳寺)Oozushi, Ehime9 (文珠院)Matsuyama, Ehime10 (西山興隆寺)Saijou, Ehime11 (正善寺)Saijou, Ehime12 (延命寺)Shikoku Chuuou, Ehime13 (仙龍寺)Shikoku Chuuou, Ehime14 (常福寺)Shikoku Chuuou, Ehime15 (箸蔵寺)Myoushi, Tokushima16 (萩原寺)Kannon-ji city, Kagawa17 (神野寺)Man'nou, Kagawa18 (海岸寺)Tadotsu, Kagawa19 (香西寺)Takamatsu, Kagawa20(大瀧寺)Mima, Tokushima

See also Shingon Kōyasan Japan 100 Kannon, pilgrimage composed of the Saigoku, Bandō and Chichibu pilgrimages Saigoku 33 Kannon, pilgrimage in the Kansai region Bandō 33 Kannon, pilgrimage in the Kantō region Chichibu 34 Kannon, pilgrimage in Saitama Prefecture Musashino Kannon Pilgrimage, pilgrimage in Tokyo and Saitama prefectures Chūgoku 33 Kannon, pilgrimage in the Chūgoku region Kannon Buddhism in Japan Tourism in Japan

References

Shikoku Pilgrimage

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