I live on one of four big islands of Japan, which is called Shikoku. About 1200 years ago, a famous Buddhist monk, Kukai, was born in the small village of Zentsuji on Shikoku. He was unbelievablly talented. In later years, people started a pilgrimage to the temples associated with him. The number of temples was 88 and this pilgrimage got to be called "Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage". Every temple is given its number from 1 to 88. Visiting the temples in order of the numbers is believed to lead the pilgrims to heaven, so the pilgrimage is very popular among aged people, though some of the temples require the pilgrims to have physical strength to reach them.
In my city, there are several temples on the list of the 88 pilgrimage. We took our guests to the 51st temple, Ishite-ji temple, the biggest and most noted one of them. Several temples are located far from the lively districts of Matsuyama, but Ishite-ji temple is very accessible.
Lots of people want to go on the pilgrimage, but some can't, for example because of their illness, disabilities or economic condition. For them, a miniature of the 88 pilgrimage route is built in a cave behind the main hall of Ishite-ji temple. Those who can't make the pilgrimage due to something can get the same effect from going through the cave. Naturally, we passed through the cave, which means we will qo up to heaven on the day of reckoning.
The picture was taken just in front of the gate of the temple. This gate is open on all sides to the weather, but it's one of the national heirlooms. A local lady took it for us. If you walk on the route of the 88 pilgrimage in an ancient way, you'll find that you can save lots of money, because the local people show great hospitality. It takes about three months to walk all the way without any transportation. People provide places for sleeping with extremely low prices, or free. You can freely eat rice balls and drink sweet juice, tea and mineral water that is spewing out from the earth. Japanese people grow up being taught to trust even strange people and serve them. Good old Japanese customs exist at least on the 88 pilgrimage route.
In the second picture, Pablo is ringing the big bell. Lots of people get together here on the last day of the year to ring the bell. They ring the bell praying for countless amounts of happiness. It's also one of the Japanese traditions. If we had enough time, I wanted to show other buildings and mysterious items, but it was about 10 o'clock. We hurried to Matsuyama castle, where other members of Jazzchor Freiburg were supposed to visit.
(Vocabulary)
palmer / pilgrim 巡礼者
accessible (場所などが)行きやすい, 近づきやすい
The island is only accessible by boat. その島はボートでしか行けない.
day of doom / day of reckoning 最後の審判の日
be open on all sides to the weather 四方雨ざらしの状態である
national heirloom 国宝
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