The Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage and the Renewal of Footpaths for Pilgrims

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Other Title
  • 四国遍路と遍路道の再生―失われた道の「再発見」―
  • シコク ヘンロ ト ヘンロドウ ノ サイセイ : ウシナワレタ ミチ ノ 「 サイハッケン 」

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Abstract

When analyzing the postwar history of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, it is clear that following motorization, the majority of pilgrims used cars. However, in the 1990s, the number of foot pilgrims increased and they are now the main focus of the Shikoku pilgrimage “boom.” The motion to revive and reproduce the footpaths can be seen in various parts of Shikoku. While road maintenance has improved, some mountain paths have turned into animal trails and disappeared due to reduced traffic. However, the need for footpaths is growing as the number of foot pilgrims increases, and this has stimulated the renewal of the footpaths. In this paper I focus on the “Kashiwazaka pilgrims’ footpath” and “Ashizuri pilgrims’ footpath” and look at the results of the renewal of these footpaths. To renew the footpaths, certain resources are required: requests by pilgrimage societies, physical resources (equipment such as guideposts), the memories of those those who have used the footpaths in the past, and human resources (residents).

Journal

  • Religion and Society

    Religion and Society 20 (0), 61-71, 2014

    The Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society

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