Pilgrimage to Koyasan - Koyamoude

Japanese: 高野詣 - こうやもうで

There were two purposes for visiting the sacred Mount Koya. The first was to visit the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, who possessed eternal life and magical powers, and receive the merits and benefits of doing so. The second was to bury the dead in the sacred mountain site of Mount Koya, or to erect a memorial tablet there, and to offer prayers for the souls of the deceased. Visiting Mount Koya was a difficult and painful experience until modern transportation was developed, but since the mid-Heian period, it has been visited by emperors, retired emperors, regents, and commoners of all ranks. It was the Koya saints (hijiri) who preached the merits of this pilgrimage and attracted pilgrims from all over the country.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

霊場高野山にもうでるには二つの目的があった。その一つは永遠の生命と呪力をもった弘法大師の廟にもうでて，その功徳利益を受けることである。その二は山岳霊場である高野山に納骨し，もしくは位牌を立てて，死者の霊を鎮魂供養することである。この高野山にもうでることは，現在のように交通が開けるまでは難行苦行であったが，平安時代中期以来，法皇，上皇，摂政関白をはじめ，貴賤衆庶があつまった。この高野詣の功徳を説いて，諸国から参詣者を誘引したのは高野聖（ひじり）である。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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