Shikoku Pilgrimage

The Shikoku Pilgrimage or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 [Buddhist Buddhist temples in Japan|temples in Japan|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, 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. 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, 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 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.

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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 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 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, 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.

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	Location	Coordinates	Image
1	Ryōzen-ji	Shaka Nyorai	Naruto, Tokushima
2	Gokuraku-ji	Amida Nyorai	Naruto, Tokushima
3	Konsen-ji	Shaka Nyorai	Itano, Tokushima
4	Dainichi-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Itano, Tokushima
5	Jizō-ji	Enmei Jizō Bosatsu	Itano, Tokushima
6	Anraku-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Kamiita, Tokushima
7	Jūraku-ji	Amida Nyorai	Awa, Tokushima
8	Kumadani-ji	Senju Kannon	Awa, Tokushima
9	Hōrin-ji	Shaka Nyorai	Awa, Tokushima
10	Kirihata-ji	Senju Kannon	Awa, Tokushima
11	Fujii-dera	Yakushi Nyorai	Yoshinogawa, Tokushima
12	Shōsan-ji	Kokūzō Bosatsu	Kamiyama, Tokushima
13	Dainichi-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Tokushima, Tokushima
14	Jōraku-ji	Miroku Bosatsu	Tokushima, Tokushima
15	Awa Kokubun-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Tokushima, Tokushima
16	Kannon-ji	Senju Kannon	Tokushima, Tokushima
17		Yakushi Nyorai	Tokushima, Tokushima
18	Onzan-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Komatsushima, Tokushima
19	Tatsue-ji	Jizō Bosatsu	Komatsushima, Tokushima
20		Jizō Bosatsu	Katsuura, Tokushima
21	Tairyū-ji	Kokūzō Bosatsu	Anan, Tokushima
22	Byōdō-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Anan, Tokushima
23	Yakuō-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Minami, Tokushima
24	Hotsumisaki-ji	Kokūzō Bosatsu	Muroto, Kōchi
25	Shinshō-ji	Jizō Bosatsu	Muroto, Kōchi
26	Kongōchō-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Muroto, Kōchi
27	Kōnomine-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Yasuda, Kōchi
28	Dainichi-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Kōnan, Kōchi
29	Tosa Kokubun-ji	Senju Kannon	Nankoku, Kōchi
30	Zenrakuji	Amida Nyorai	Kōchi, Kōchi
31	Chikurin-ji	Monju Bosatsu	Kōchi, Kōchi
32	Zenjibu-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Nankoku, Kōchi
33	Sekkei-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Kōchi, Kōchi
34	Tanema-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Haruno, Kōchi
35	Kiyotaki-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Tosa, Kōchi
36	Shōryū-ji	Fudō Myōō	Tosa, Kōchi
37	Iwamoto-ji	Five Buddhas	Shimanto, Kōchi
38	Kongōfuku-ji	Senju Kannon	Tosashimizu, Kōchi
39	Enkōji	Yakushi Nyorai	Sukumo, Kōchi
40	Kanjizai-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Ainan, Ehime
41		Jūichimen Kannon	Uwajima, Ehime
42	Butsumoku-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Uwajima, Ehime
43	Meiseki-ji	Senju Kannon	Seiyo, Ehime
44	Daihō-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Kumakōgen, Ehime
45		Fudō Myōō	Kumakōgen, Ehime
46	Jōruri-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
47	Yasaka-ji	Amida Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
48	Sairin-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Matsuyama, Ehime
49	Jōdo-ji	Shaka Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
50	Hanta-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
51	Ishite-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
52	Taisan-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Matsuyama, Ehime
53	Enmyō-ji	Amida Nyorai	Matsuyama, Ehime
54	Enmei-ji	Fudō Myōō	Imabari, Ehime
55	Nankōbō	Daitsū-chishō Butsu	Imabari, Ehime
56	Taisan-ji	Jizō Bosatsu	Imabari, Ehime
57	Eifuku-ji	Amida Nyorai	Imabari, Ehime
58	Senyū-ji	Senjū Kannon	Imabari, Ehime
59	Iyo Kokubun-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Imabari, Ehime
60	Yokomine-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Saijō, Ehime
61	Kōon-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Saijō, Ehime
62	Hōju-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Saijō, Ehime
63	Kichijō-ji	Bishamonten	Saijō, Ehime
64	Maegami-ji	Amida Nyorai	Saijō, Ehime
65	Sankaku-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Shikokuchūō, Ehime
66	Unpen-ji	Senju Kannon	Miyoshi, Tokushima
67	Daikō-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Mitoyo, Kagawa
68	Jinne-in	Amida Nyorai	Kan'onji, Kagawa
69	Kannon-ji	Shō Kannon	Kan'onji, Kagawa
70	Motoyama-ji	Batō Kannon	Mitoyo, Kagawa
71	Iyadani-ji	Senju Kannon	Mitoyo, Kagawa
72	Mandara-ji	Dainichi Nyorai	Zentsūji, Kagawa
73	Shusshakaji	Shaka Nyorai	Zentsūji, Kagawa
74	Kōyama-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Zentsūji, Kagawa
75	Zentsū-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Zentsūji, Kagawa
76	Konzō-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Zentsūji, Kagawa
77	Dōryū-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Tadotsu, Kagawa
78	Gōshō-ji	Amida Nyorai	Utazu, Kagawa
79	Tennō-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Sakaide, Kagawa
80	Sanuki Kokubun-ji	Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon	Takamatsu, Kagawa
81	Shiromine-ji	Senju Kannon	Sakaide, Kagawa
82	Negoro-ji	Senju Kannon	Takamatsu, Kagawa
83	Ichinomiya-ji	Shō Kannon	Takamatsu, Kagawa
84	Yashima-ji	Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon	Takamatsu, Kagawa
85	Yakuri-ji	Shō Kannon	Takamatsu, Kagawa
86	Shido-ji	Jūichimen Kannon	Sanuki, Kagawa
87	Nagao-ji	Shō Kannon	Sanuki, Kagawa
88	Ōkubo-ji	Yakushi Nyorai	Sanuki, Kagawa