Mount Omine

In a broad sense, it is a general term for the peaks of the Omine mountain range in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, and in a narrow sense, it refers to Mount Sanjogatake (1,719 meters) in the north. The place name Omine comes from Mount Omine-ji Temple on Mount Sanjogatake. The Omine mountain range is a mountain range stretching about 50 kilometers from north to south, bounded by the Yoshino River and Kitayama River to the east and the Totsu River to the west, stretching from Mount Yoshino in the north to Mount Tamaki in the south. The highest peak is Mount Hakkenzan (1,915 meters). This series of steep peaks in their prime is also known as the "roof of Kinki." It belongs to Yoshino-Kumano National Park. Sanjogatake was founded by En no Gyoja in the late 7th century and is known as a sacred mountain of Shugendo, which was revived by Shoho in the late 9th century. At the summit is Omine-san Temple (the main hall is a national important cultural property) that enshrines Zao Gongen, as well as other places of worship such as Kanekakeiwa, Nishi no Nozokiiwa, Higashi no Nozokiiwa, and Ari no Towatari. The road from Sanjogatake to the south, passing through Misen and Shakagatake to Zenki in Shimokitayama Village, has many difficult spots and is called Okugakemichi. Even today, women are not allowed on the road. The most common route is from Dogawa in Tenkawa Village.

[Ichiro Kikuchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

広義には奈良県吉野の大峰山脈の諸峰の総称で、狭義にはその北部にある山上ヶ岳(さんじょうがたけ)（1719メートル）をさす。大峰の地名は山上ヶ岳にある大峰山寺に由来する。大峰山脈は東は吉野川、北山川、西は十津(とつ)川で限られた南北約50キロメートルの山地で、北は吉野山から南は玉置山(たまきやま)に及ぶ。最高峰は八剣山(はっけんざん)（1915メートル）。壮年期の峻峰(しゅんぽう)が連なり「近畿の屋根」とも称される。吉野熊野国立公園に属す。山上ヶ岳は7世紀後半に役行者(えんのぎょうじゃ)が開き、9世紀後半に聖宝が中興した修験道(しゅげんどう)の霊山として知られ、山頂には蔵王権現(ごんげん)を祀(まつ)る大峰山寺（本堂は国の重要文化財）があるほか、鐘掛岩、西の覗(のぞき)岩、東の覗岩、蟻の戸渡りなどの行場がある。山上ヶ岳から南へ弥山(みせん)、釈迦ヶ岳(しゃかがたけ)を経て下北山村前鬼(ぜんき)へ至る道は難所が多く、奥駈道(おくがけみち)とよばれる。現在も女人禁制を守っている。天川(てんかわ)村洞川(どうがわ)から登るのが一般的なルート。

［菊地一郎］

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