四国八十八ヶ所巡り The Orginal of 88 Temples Pilgrimage
【空海大師與四國遍路】
尋訪八十八座佛寺的四國遍路應該是日本最負盛名的朝聖旅程。迥異於歐洲宗教朝聖之旅,四國遍路發端於日本佛教式的僧侶苦行,由日本高僧空海大師開創,最早可以追溯於公元815年,迄今已經有一千兩百年的歷史。 假使你想要進行一趟「四國遍路」之旅,你會需要蒐集四國八十八座與空海大師有淵源的佛寺朱印與納禮,那意昧著你必須要尋訪遍佈四國四縣的札所,抵達八十八座寺宇的方式你可以選擇自行車、摩托車、汽車或者大眾交通工具;其中,徒步才是被認為最傳統的遍路方式,功德也最大。無論如何,當你第一次進行遍路,所有的經驗都會建議你走順時針方向(俗稱順打),照著番號的順序由小而大前進,也就是從德島縣開始,繼而高知縣,接壤愛媛縣,最後以香川縣做為終點站。 空海生於公元774年,誕生於現香川縣的七十五番善通寺,俗名佐伯眞魚。他曾經做為遣唐僧留學中國,也曾閱讀過中國儒家與道教的經典,最終仍選擇佛教做為他的依歸。在空海返回日本之後,他開始徒步環繞四國許多年,與此同時並沉思佛教義理,爾後空海創建許多學說思想便是在這個時期奠定的。而空海當時徒步環繞四國的事蹟,也形成今日四國遍路的雛形。 公元816年,時年四十三歲的空海已成一派宗師,此時他獲得天皇的允許來開闢位於今日和歌山縣的高野山道場。空海之後便在高野山那講經筵席,最後也圓寂於高野山的奧之院之中。因此,有人說高野山才是四國遍路的真正終點,有部分的遍路者完成參拜八十八座靈場後,仍會選擇搭乘德島渡輪造訪高野山。 四國是一個相對於日本本州較為鄉下偏僻的地方,青壯人口流失嚴重,鄉村區域大多僅有老年人口留守。因此,當地的人們表示,非常感謝「四國遍路」,因為「四國遍路」吸引了來自四面八方的朝聖者,四國能因此獲得世人關注的目光,甚至站上世界的舞台,陸陸續續的遍路者來到四國鄉村,許多商店、餐廳、旅館能夠倚仗遍路道做生意渡過每一年的春夏秋冬。「四國遍路」不止蘊藏深厚的文化,也帶來給當地居民生活的依靠,所以我真心認為空海大師開闢了一條功德無量的千年古道。 |
【Daishi KUKAI & Shikoku Henro】
Shikoku Henro (四國遍路) for visiting 88 temples probably is the most famous pilgrimage in Japan. Different from Europe pilgrimages, it is Buddhistic Style, what can track back to around 815 A.D., was established by a great monk KUKAI (空海) 1200 years ago. If you wanna do this Buddhism Pilgrimage, you'll need to collect 88 stamps from 88 Temples which are located at everywhere in Shikoku 4 prefectures. It doesn't really matter you arrive at 88 temples by walking, cycling, cars or public transportation. I choose to do on a bike, even though people think walking is the most traditional Henro way. However, You'd better do Henro clockwise, starting from Tokushima Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, until Kagawa Prefecture. KUKAI was born on 774 at Zentsu-ji (#75 善通寺) in Kagawa Prefecture. He had learned Buddhism in China and also ever tudied other Chinese classic books like Confucianism and Taoism. After he back Japan, he started to travel around Shikoku on feet for many years, and as if deep in thought at the same time.That might be the most original Shikoku Henro/ Pilgrimage in early period. At 816, KUKAI was 43, got permission from the Emperor and began to set up Mt. Koya School (高野山道場) in Wakayama, KUKAI taught there long time and then he passed way at the Temple in Mt. Koya. So, people says Mt. Koya is the real ending of Henro Pilgrimage, some pilgrims will visit Mt. Koya after they finish walking all 88 Temples. Comparing to other places in Japan, Shikoku is more countryside area. Usually only seniors lives, young people is not much. Therefore, local people says because of Shikoku Henro, it attracts so many pilgrims from everywhere to here, resulted in the world can notice Shikoku, so that local people can rely on the Henro way for opening the hotel, restaurant or whatever... Hence, I really regard Shikoku Henro as a very great path, it not only offers about culture, but also about life. |