Thesourceof fiercemountanand1 i i 2ii i3 li4 il5 scencbeautyof theworshpBegnnngof theworshpPopuarizationVsitingaroundsacredwater pacesA road to theitFuji-koCircuitCircuitPilgrimagePilgrimageWorship-Ascentsumm In May, Fujisan is not yet open, but about 20,000 of “Fujizakura” cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the forest around Nakanochaya Teahouse, which is located on the Yoshida Ascending Route. The small light-pink blossoms are blooming all at once, which are also called Mamezakura, meaning small sakura, or Otomezakura, meaning maiden sakura. In addition, the Japanese Azalea growing naturally in groups come into blossom. The foot of Fujisan is filled with a sweet vital power of nature, which remind us of Konohana-Sakuya-Hime (goddess of the flowering tree). The section of the Yoshida Ascending Route from the foot to the 5th station is different from the general image of Fujisan being barren soil. The features of the vegetation of Fujisan are expressed by the words “Kusayama, Kiyama and Yakeyama”. The vicinity of Nakanochaya Teahouse, where there are many trees of Fujizakura, is corresponding to “Kusayama (literally grass mountain)”, and the woods of red pine trees, which are over 250 years old, planted in the Edo period (1603 – 1868), are also wonderful. The part from “Umagaeshi (literally horse’s return, meaning the limit Fujizakura cherry blossomsof ascent on horseback) ”, which is considered to be a secluded and quiet place, to the 5th station is corresponding “Kiyama (literally tree mountain)”. It is surrounded by the primeval forest of larch, Northern Japanese Hemlock, fir and so on, and the roots of trees, bare lava rocks and scattered religious relics are covered with moss, which will make you feel as if you are held in the bosom of Fujisan. As coming closer to the 5th station, which is regarded as “Tenchi-no-sakai (the boundary between heaven and earth) ”, the scene changes to a landscape peculiar to the forest limit, where the trees become lower and less. The area above the 5th station, where the reddish-brown surface of the mountain is exposed, is called “Yakeyama (literally burnt mountain)”. The landscape of natural arts created by Fujisan is expecting you. the greatness of Creation Worshipfrom afarNature of Fujisan changing every moment from the foot to the summit (Kusayama / Kiyama / Yakeyama)29■e most sacred sites built at the highest point in Japan are waiting for you in the sky. The summit of Fujisan is formed with peaks around the huge crater. Among the peaks, “Mt. Kusushigatake (Mt. Yakushigatake)/Kusushi-jinja Shrine (Yakushi-do)” is the goal of the Yoshida and Subashiri Ascending Routes. Worship-ascents in the Edo period (1603 – 1868), however, lasted ahead. First, the crater itself was considered as the very inner sanctum called “Naiin”, and Dainichi-Nyorai (Asama-no-Okami, Asama-Bodhisattva, or the god and Buddha of Asama) was believed to be seated at the very bottom of the crater. In addition, the eight peaks were called “Hachiyo”, meaning eight petals, compared to lotus petals which are the pedestal of the Buddha, and each peak had the name associated with Buddha of “Hachiyo Kuson”. Out of the peaks, “Mt. Kengamine” is the highest peak of Fujisan with a height of 3,776 meters. Since Saint Matsudai (a 12th-century Buddhist), built Dainichi Temple at the mountaintop, facilities such as temple, torii, shrine, stone pagoda and temple bell were built, and Buddhist statues, Buddhist sutras and other items were carried to the mountaintop or buried there as offerings, with the development of Fujisan worship. Those who reached the summit performed various worship activities such as awaiting and seeing the holy sunrise, “Goraigo (or Goraiko)”, hitting a temple bell, worshipping and offering money to the inner sanctum, Naiin. Making a circuit pilgrimage clockwise called “Ohachi-meguri”, visiting the eight peaks around the crater wall, was the last pilgrimage road of worship-ascent of Fujisan. Later, in accordance with the Meiji government’s decree of 1868 to separate Shinto and Buddhism, Buddhist facilities and statues at the mountaintop were removed, and the names of the peaks associated with Buddha were also changed. The worship sites that remain around the crater still tell the image of the most sacred sites which would spread all over the summit in the sky. Even today, the practice of “Ohachi-meguri”, making a circuit of about 3 kilometers on the crater wall at the mountaintop, is conducted by many climbers, although they need to avoid some peaks due to the collapse and so on. If you make “Ohachi-meguri” after climbing step by step from the foot, you will be able to really feel the sacred mountain which the former worshippers would have seen and felt. Mountaintop worship sites
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