Introduction of my home country

2. Kujuku Oji Shrines

2. Kujuku Oji Shrines
(Ninty-nine Tiny Shrines)

99 tiny shrines or travelers' guardian deities
along Kumano-kodo Roads

Kujuku (99) Oji shrines are a series of small shrines which were established between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries by the Kumano Shugendo priests.
(Shugendo is a highly syncretic Buddhist religion and mystical-spiritual tradition that originated in pre-Feudal Japan.)

The Experience Expo of Nanki-Kumano was held for a half year, April 29 thru September 19 in 1999.
The following are the preface of the pamphlet "Kumano-kodo Roads and 100,000 Worship-Goers", handed from the sponsor.

"Kumano" is said to have been called the origin of Japan with gods by the meaning "the deep end of the earth."
Since Heian period (794-1192), so many people of young and old alike have visited and worshipped in Kumano Three Grand Shrines (Hongu Grand Shrine, Hayatama Grand Shrine and Nachi Grand Shrine).
Kumano-kodo Roads are what such pious ancient people walked along to the shrines.
Moss-covered stone pavements, stone images of Buddha, trees, flowers , etc., ...... all in olden times are still now alive everywhere. The visit to the Kumano Grand Shrines actually means a chain of asceticism and austerity. Nevertheless, visiters have walked and walked, seeking salvation, happiness and comfort for Kumano.


Kumano-kodo Roads and Certificate of each shrine

Kumano includes my hometown, Shingu city. This district is said to be one of the origins of Japan, as stated before, where innumerable people have visited since ancient times. The mountain passes and the seashore where I was so familier in my childhood are on the Ohechi and Nakahechi ancient roads, a part of Kumano-kodo Roads.

I am going to introduce Kumano-kodo Roads.
This time I rely mostly on the booklet of "The visit of a hundred thousand people to Kumano Three Grand Shrines through Kumano-kodo Roads". However, not to mention, I am also going to report the Kumano in my heart, based on the experience of walking the roads here and there in my youth and during homecoming since university days in Metropolitan Tokyo half a century ago.
Firstly, I introduce "Kumano Ninty-nine Tiny Shrines."

"Kumano Kujuku (99) Oji"
Kumano Ninty-Nine Tiny Shrines

"Kumano kujuku Oji" or Kumano Ninty-Nine Tiny Shrines are the shrines built for the pious people to rest on their way of asceticism and austerity to the Kumano Three Grand Shrines. It was when their belief in the Shrines got higher from the Ancient to the Medieval period, so that a lot of people, high society and common alike, came worshipping all the way to Kumano.
Pious people relieved their fatigue of the walking journey at each tiny shrine. They prayed their safe journey to and from the faraway Kumano Shrines. Poetry-reading parties were held at times there.
"Kumano Ninty-Nine Tiny Shrines" does not mean the real number of the shrines. Rather, it expresses just "a lot". There are actually the remains of 95 Oji shrines now.
　Five shrines among all are high-ranked and called "Five Important Oji". They are Fujishiro, Kirime, Inabane, Takijiri and Hosshinmon.