Michael Pye: Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage.
Sheffield (UK): Equinox
[2015] 2017, 332 pp., illustr.
ISBN-13 (Hardback) — 9781845539160
Verlagsinformation
Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage explores the
ritual practice of “circulatory pilgrimages” – the visiting of many
temples in a numbered sequence. Every year, hundreds of thousands of
pilgrims travel such temple routes, seeking peace of mind, health and
wellbeing for themselves and others as the benefits of such meritorious
endeavour. This form of pilgrimage appears to be unique to Japan. The
practice began centuries ago and involved visiting 33 temples devoted to
the Bodhisattva Kannon, spread widely over western Japan. Soon
afterwards the equally famous pilgrimage to 88 temples on Japan’s fourth
island of Shikoku came into prominence.
This is the first comprehensive study of all the major and many of
the minor routes, The book also examines how the practice of circulatory
pilgrimage developed among the shrines and temples for the Seven Gods
of Good Fortune, and beyond them to the rather different world of
Shintō. The varying significance of the different pilgrimages is also
explored. In addition to all the information about the routes, the book
includes numerous illustrations and examples of the short Buddhist texts
chanted by the pilgrims on their rounds.
Author: Prof. em. Dr. Michael Pye (geb. 1939): Marburg University (Emeritus) and Ōtani University
Vgl. ausführlich —
Michael Pye: Religionsgeschichte Japans.
Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 2022 >>>
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction [+] – 1-27
Chapter 2 – Going Round to Visit Kannon-Sama
[+] – 29-74
Chapter 3 – The Shikoku Pilgrimage [+] – 75-102
Chapter 4 – More Buddhist Routes [+] – 103-140
Chapter 5 – Going Round to Other Divinities
[+] – 141-180
Chapter 6 – The Pilgrim’s Transaction [+] – 181-206
Chapter 7 – The Meaning of Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage
[+] – 207-257
Chapter 8 – General Conclusions [+] – 259-267
commendable work. The first six chapters alone allow readers to gain
basic information about the great diversity of pilgrimage routes in
Japan as well as specifics about pilgrimage rituals and etiquette,
material culture, and so on. Pye’s views about the meaning of Buddhist
pilgrimage in Japan are built upon the premise that the motivations for
undertaking them are intrinsically religious at their core. While this
will not be persuasive to all, it offers an important academic
perspective.
A fascinating work which should prove an enduring resource in the
study of Japanese religions and pilgrimage studies more generally. It is
well-written, highly informative and based on much first-hand
observation and hard-to-obtain Japanese sources.
Professor Brian Bocking, University College Cork
The details offered here are crucial to an understanding of Japanese
pilgrimage culture, and many of the insights that Pye gives on invention
and hybridization of religious practices are highly germane to the
anthropology of Japanese, Eastern, and indeed all religion.
