Shikoku Pilgrimage


The Shikoku Pilgrimage or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai 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. 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 over 20 bangai — temples not considered part of the official 88. To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some cases it is even considered :wikt:lucky|lucky to travel in reverse order. is the Japanese word for pilgrim, and the inhabitants of Shikoku call the pilgrims, the being an honorific and the a title similar to "Mr." or "Mrs.". They are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-zue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai are frequently given. Many pilgrims 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 Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.

History

Background

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

, born at Zentsū-ji in 774, studied in China, and upon his return was influential in the promotion of esoteric Buddhism. He established the Shingon retreat of 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

literally means "four provinces", those of Awa, Tosa, Iyo, and Sanuki, reorganised 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 awakening, 24–39 austerity and discipline, 40–65 attaining enlightenment, and 66–88 entering nirvana.

Equipment

The pilgrim's traditional costume comprises a white shirt, conical Asian hat, and staff. This may be supplemented by a stole. The henro also carries a bag containing name slips, Buddhist prayer beads, a booklet to collect stamps/seals, Japanese incense, and coins used as offerings. The more religiously-minded henro may also carry a book of sutras 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 Heart Sutra is chanted along with repetition of the Mantra of the main image and the Mantra of Light. After kigan and ekō prayers, the henro proceeds to the shrine of Kobo Daishi. 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.

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 Hawai'ian island of Kaua'i.

Temples

Collectively, the 88 temples are known as or simply the.
No.TempleHonzon LocationCoordinatesImage
1Ryōzen-ji Shaka NyoraiNaruto, Tokushima
2Gokuraku-ji Amida NyoraiNaruto, Tokushima
3Konsen-ji Shaka NyoraiItano, Tokushima
4Dainichi-ji Dainichi NyoraiItano, Tokushima
5Jizō-ji Enmei Jizō BosatsuItano, Tokushima
6Anraku-ji Yakushi NyoraiKamiita, Tokushima
7Jūraku-ji Amida NyoraiAwa, Tokushima
8Kumadani-ji Senju KannonAwa, Tokushima
9Hōrin-ji Shaka NyoraiAwa, Tokushima
10Kirihata-ji Senju KannonAwa, Tokushima
11 Yakushi NyoraiYoshinogawa, Tokushima
12 Kokūzō BosatsuKamiyama, Tokushima
13 Jūichimen KannonTokushima, Tokushima
14 Miroku BosatsuTokushima, Tokushima
15 Yakushi NyoraiTokushima, Tokushima
16Kannon-ji Senju KannonTokushima, Tokushima
17 Yakushi NyoraiTokushima, Tokushima
18Onzan-ji Yakushi NyoraiKomatsushima, Tokushima
19Tatsue-ji Jizō BosatsuKomatsushima, Tokushima
20 Jizō BosatsuKatsuura, Tokushima
21Tairyūji Yakushi NyoraiAnan, Tokushima
23Yakuō-ji Yakushi NyoraiMinami, Tokushima
24Hotsumisaki-ji Kokūzō BosatsuMuroto, Kōchi
25Shinshō-ji Jizō BosatsuMuroto, Kōchi
26Kongōchō-ji Yakushi NyoraiMuroto, Kōchi
27Kōnomine-ji Jūichimen KannonYasuda, Kōchi
28Dainichi-ji Dainichi NyoraiKōnan, Kōchi
29Tosa Kokubun-ji Senju KannonNankoku, Kōchi
30Zenrakuji Amida NyoraiKōchi, Kōchi
31Chikurin-ji Monju BosatsuKōchi, Kōchi
32Zenjibu-ji Jūichimen KannonNankoku, Kōchi
33Sekkei-ji Yakushi NyoraiKōchi, Kōchi
34Tanema-ji Yakushi NyoraiHaruno, Kōchi
35Kiyotaki-ji Yakushi NyoraiTosa, Kōchi
36Shōryū-ji Fudō MyōōTosa, Kōchi
37Iwamoto-ji Five BuddhasShimanto, Kōchi
38Kongōfuku-ji Senju KannonTosashimizu, Kōchi
39Enkōji Yakushi NyoraiSukumo, Kōchi
40Kanjizai-ji Yakushi NyoraiAinan, Ehime
41Ryūkōji Jūichimen KannonUwajima, Ehime
42Butsumoku-ji Dainichi NyoraiUwajima, Ehime
43Meiseki-ji Senju KannonSeiyo, Ehime
44Daihō-ji Jūichimen KannonKumakōgen, Ehime
45 Fudō MyōōKumakōgen, Ehime
46Jōruri-ji Yakushi NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
47Yasaka-ji Amida NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
48Sairin-ji Jūichimen KannonMatsuyama, Ehime
49Jōdo-ji Shaka NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
50Hanta-ji Yakushi NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
51Ishite-ji Yakushi NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
52Taisan-ji Jūichimen KannonMatsuyama, Ehime
53Enmyō-ji Amida NyoraiMatsuyama, Ehime
54Enmei-ji Fudō MyōōImabari, Ehime
55Nankōbō Daitsū-chishō ButsuImabari, Ehime
56Taisan-ji Jizō BosatsuImabari, Ehime
57Eifuku-ji Amida NyoraiImabari, Ehime
58Senyū-ji Senjū KannonImabari, Ehime
59Iyo Kokubun-ji Yakushi NyoraiImabari, Ehime
60Yokomine-ji Dainichi NyoraiSaijō, Ehime
61Kōon-ji Dainichi NyoraiSaijō, Ehime
62Hōju-ji Jūichimen KannonSaijō, Ehime
63Kichijō-ji BishamontenSaijō, Ehime
64Maegami-ji Amida NyoraiSaijō, Ehime
65Sankaku-ji Jūichimen KannonShikokuchūō, Ehime
66Unpen-ji Senju KannonMiyoshi, Tokushima
67Daikō-ji Yakushi NyoraiMitoyo, Kagawa
68Jinne-in Amida NyoraiKan'onji, Kagawa
69Kannon-ji Shō KannonKan'onji, Kagawa
70Motoyama-ji Batō KannonMitoyo, Kagawa
71Iyadani-ji Senju KannonMitoyo, Kagawa
72Mandara-ji Dainichi NyoraiZentsūji, Kagawa
73Shusshakaji Shaka NyoraiZentsūji, Kagawa
74Kōyama-ji Yakushi NyoraiZentsūji, Kagawa
75Zentsū-ji Yakushi NyoraiZentsūji, Kagawa
76Konzō-ji Yakushi NyoraiZentsūji, Kagawa
77Dōryū-ji Yakushi NyoraiTadotsu, Kagawa
78Gōshō-ji Amida NyoraiUtazu, Kagawa
79Tennō-ji Jūichimen KannonSakaide, Kagawa
80Sanuki Kokubun-ji Jūichimen & Senjū KannonTakamatsu, Kagawa
81Shiromine-ji Senju KannonSakaide, Kagawa
82Negoro-ji Senju KannonTakamatsu, Kagawa
83Ichinomiya-ji Shō KannonTakamatsu, Kagawa
84Yashima-ji Jūichimen & Senjū KannonTakamatsu, Kagawa
85Yakuri-ji Shō KannonTakamatsu, Kagawa
86Shido-ji Jūichimen KannonSanuki, Kagawa
87Nagao-ji Shō KannonSanuki, Kagawa
88Ōkubo-ji Yakushi NyoraiSanuki, Kagawa