Glossary

Aruki henro 歩き遍路 : The pilgrim who walks. This is the most traditional form to perform the pilgrimage of 88 temples on Shikoku. But there is also other way to perform the pilgrimage: by bus, car or bicycle.

Bangai (番外) temples are sacred places but not among the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage. In Japanese, Bangai literally means "out of numbering" . (more…)

A Bekkaku (別格) temple is a temple that is not part of the principal road of the 88 shikoku pilgrimage temples but has a relative importance with the monk Kukai, the founder of the pilgrimage. (more…)

Daishido (大師堂) is small building reserved for Kobo Daishi. There is Daishido in all 88 temples of Shikoku pilgrimage but on the trail there is Daishido appart of a temple.  Sometimes, the pilgrim can use it to sleep.

Dōgyō Ninin (同行 二人) literally means Traveling (in the sense of pilgrimage) together. The spiritual significance in the context of the pilgrimage of the 88 temples to Shikoku is that Kōbō Daishi always travels with the pilgrim and accompanies him in difficulties.  (more…)

Gohōgō (御宝号) is a mantra in tribute to Kobo-Daishi. This is the Mantra that you repeat three times in front of the Daishi Hall at every temple. (more…)

Gyaku-uchi (逆打ち) means doing the pilgrimage in the opposite direction ( counter-clockwise). Doing the pilgrimage of Shikoku entirely in Gyaku-uchi is quite rare. This way of doing pilgrimages is mostly used for only some temples.

Henro (遍 路) refers to the pilgrim who travels along the path of the 88 temples in Shikoku but the term henro is also used to designate the Shikoku pilgrimage in abbreviation of Henro michi.

Henro Goya 遍路小屋

Huts built by local authorities to allow shikoku pilgrims to rest. Some aruki henro spend the night in a very basic comfort. These are often shelters composed simply of a roof and a bench.

Henro*korogashi (遍路ころがし) are very difficult passages encountered during the Shikoku pilgrimage. henro korogashi means “Place where pilgrims fall over”. You can find Henro-korogashi on the path to the temples : 12, 20, 21, 27, 60, 66, 81 et 82.

Henro michi (遍 路 道) is the pilgrim’s trail in Shikoku. Often the pilgrimage of Shikou is simply referred to by this term. But it is also the “way” of the pilgrim, in a sense a little more spiritual.

Ikkoku-mairi (一国参り) is to visit the temple of a single prefecture. To make the whole pilgrimage is Tōshi-uchi (通 し 打 ち).

Jun-uchi ((順 打 ち) is the standard way to make the pilgrimage in a clockwise direction, in the opposite direction it is gyaku uchi. Jun-uchi means doing the shikoku pilgrimage from temple 1 to temple 88.

Junrei (巡礼) is a Japanese word for a Buddhist or Shinto pilgrimage. The pilgrimage of Shikoku (Shikoku junrei) is commonly called Shikoku Henro.

Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo ( 南 無 大師 遍照 金剛) is an inscription found on many of the equipment of the Shikoku Pilgrim. It is a Shingon Buddhist sutra in honor of its founder Kukai (or Kobo Daishi). (more…)

Nojuku (野 宿) means wild camping. During the shikoku pilgrimage, this term refers to either sleeping outside or in basic shelters made available to pilgrims.

The nōkyōchō ((納 経 帳)) is a notebook that is presented to each of the 88 Shikoku pilgrimage temples to collect stamps and calligraphy at the Nōkyō-shō. It is usually bought at the first temple, there are different sizes and shapes.

O-settai (お接待) is a gift to Shikoku pilgrim's.  See Settai

Orei-Mairi (お 礼 参 り) A custom that means finishing the Shikoku pilgrimage by returning to the first temple visited. For others, it is the end of the pilgrimage to Mount Koya. (more…)

Settai (接待) or more exactly O-settai  means "reception, welcome". During Shikoku pilgrimage, O-settaie are the gifts, or sometimes money, that pilgrims receive on their way to 88 temples. (more…)

The Shingon Buddhist School (真言 宗, Shingon-shū) is one of the major currents of Buddhism in Japan. Shingon is the Japanese reading of the Chinese word 真言, translation of the Sanskrit word mantra (incantations). 真 means truth and 言 word. (more…)

Shukubō (宿坊) are ryokan-style pay rooms made available by a temple. This style of accommodation is developed under the Heian era. It is the ancestor of the ryokan. (more…)

Tsūyadō (通夜 堂);, it is a free shelter offered by a temple for aruki henro (walkiing pilgrims) during Shikoku pilgrimage. as for henro goya, the comfort is  very basic . Some are tiny (2 or 3 beds), others huge as in the temple 51 ishite-ji.