Heian Era Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages to Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and sacred mountains are still popular in Japan, particularly with those over 60 who have time on their hands. |
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A priest leads a group
of pilgrims to Makinoodera temple. |
Many of the temples on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage date from Heian times and still attract many pilgrims. |
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Pilgrims walk down to the hondo at Hogonji Temple. |
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A pilgrim dressed in
traditional white garb walks down to the main hall at
Yoshimine-dera. |
Kurama, in the Northern Hills, was a popular place of pilgrimage in Heian times, and Kurama-dera temple is mentioned in The Sarashina Diary (Sarashina Nikki). |
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Kurama-dera hondo. |
One of the most well known pilgrimages was Kiyomizu-dera, which Genji passes on his way to Yugao's funeral at Mount Toribe. Another was Ishiyama-dera, a favourite of Murasaki Shikibu herself. |
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Kiyomizu-dera has been a
popular pilgrimage since Heian times. |
On the road to Ise, Hatsuse (Hase-dera) was probably the farthest pilgrimage for aristocrats of the Heian era. |
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Pilgrims and tourists on
the veranda of Hase-dera. |
After the Latter Days of the Law (mappo) began in 1052, Amidism became increasingly popular. The Daibutsu in the new capital became a popular pilgrimage in the Kamakura era. |
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The enormous bronze statue of
the Buddha Amida at Kamakura. |
Present-day pilgrims to Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines can buy a nokyocho (pilgrim's book) and have their visit recorded with an official stamp and a handwritten name and date. |
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The front and back covers
of a nokyocho depict
a procession up to the Iwashimizu
Hachiman shrine on Mount
Otoko. |
Mementos at shrines and temples include omamori (amulets) made from cloth and wood. |
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An omamori amulet
from the Seiganto Shrine near Nachi Falls. |
For a taste of the type of forest path used by early pilgrims, try the Takisaka-no-michi trail from Yagyu to Nara. |