Michishirube
Waymarker showing the path; also the title of the oldest surviving pilgrimage guide
PilgrimageHistorynew, to be validated
Michishirube (道標 or 道しるべ, “what shows the way”) refers to the markers and signs that guide the walker. The word has a second meaning: it is the title of the oldest surviving pilgrimage guidebook, the Shikoku henro michishirube (四国遍路道指南), published in 1687 by Shinnen. Read the Chinese way, 道標 is also pronounced dōhyō.
Along the route you will meet several kinds of michishirube:
- Shinnen’s markers (late 17th century): engraved stones showing the direction of the next temple, sometimes with a carved hand, and the donor’s name. A text of 1690 speaks of about two hundred markers; fewer than forty are identified today.
- The markers of Nakatsukasa Mohei (late 19th and early 20th century), often decorated with a hand pointing the way.
- Chōishi (丁石): small stones counting down the distance to the temple in chō (about 109 m), mostly on climbs.
- Modern signs: boards, small plates and red “へんろみち” arrows put up by associations and volunteers. These are what guide walkers today.
See also hyōseki (標石, engraved stones) and, for the history, Shinnen, his guide and his markers and the 1687 guide.
- In English
- Signpost, waymarker; also a guidebook
- Other spellings
- michi shirube · dōhyō · 道しるべ · 道標
In the same category
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