Shugendō

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Shugendō (修験道, Shugendō^?) is an old Japanese religion in which enlightenment is obtained through the study of the relationship between Man and Nature. Shugendō literally means "the path of training and testing." It centers on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from Koshintō (ancient Shinto), Buddhism and other eastern philosophies including folk animism. Shugendo practitioners are the most direct lineage descendants of the ancient hijiri of the eight and ninth centuries.^[1] The focus or goal of shugendō is the development of spiritual experience and power.

En-no-Gyōja is often considered as having first organized shugendō as a doctrine.

1 History
2 Followers
3 Further reading
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

With its origins in the solitary hijiri, Shugendō evolved as a sort of amalgamation between esoteric Buddhism, Shinto and several other religious influences in Japan around the 7th century, including imported Taoism. Buddhism and Shinto coexisted and were amalgamated in the shinbutsu shūgō and Kūkai's syncretic view held wide sway up until the end of the Edo period.^{[citation needed]}

During the Meiji restoration, in 1873, shugendō was banned as a superstition not fit for a new, enlightened Japan. The Shugendō temples were converted into imperial Shintō shrines. Some Shugendo orders found protection through incorporating state-sponsored Buddhism into their doctrines.

In modern times, shugendō is practiced by diverse temples and sects, mainly by the Yoshino Yamabushi of Dewa Sanzan (Tendai sect), Kinpusenji and Ishiyama-dera Shingon sects, retaining an influence on modern Japanese religion and culture.

[edit] Followers

Those who practice shugendō are referred in two ways. One term, shugenja (修験者), is derived from the term "shugendō" much as "Buddhist" describes a follower of Buddha or Christian a follower of Christ, though the term centers on an idea as opposed to a person.

The other term, yamabushi (山伏) means "one who lies in the mountains". Supernatural creatures often appeared as yamabushi in Japanese myths and folklore, as is evident in the legendary monk warrior Saito Musashibo Benkei and the deity Sojobo, king of the tengu (mountain spirits).

Modern shugenja in Japan and throughout the world are known to self-actualize their spiritual power in experiential form through challenging and rigorous ritualistic tests of courage and devotion known as shugyo. Pilgrimages involving mountain treks (Mts Ominé, Dewa, Hakusan, etc in Japan) are embarked upon by shugenja and, through the experience of each trek, as well as years of study, "rank" is earned within the sect. The rituals are kept secret from the neophyte shugenja and the world at large. This denju ensures the true faith of the neophytes and maintains the fear of the unknown as they embark upon the austere journey. This secrecy was also borne out of previous episodes of persecution and oppression of shugenja as a threat to the ruling military hegemony. Many modern shugenja maintain the practice of relative anonymity in their daily lives.