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Japan's three sacred mountains: sacred mountains woven together by faith and nature

Japan is said to have been home to gods and Buddhas since ancient times, and there are sacred mountains that have gathered people's faith. Among them, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Hakusan, which are known as the "three sacred mountains in Japan." These mountains have aroused people's awe and cultivated their own unique belief system, thanks to their beautiful appearance, rich nature and mystical powers. In this article, we will explain in detail the characteristics, history, and faith of each of the three sacred mountains in Japan.

The symbol of beauty and awe of the sacred mountain Fuji, Japan's number one beauty

Mount Fuji is Japan's highest peak, and its elegant appearance attracts people all over the world, making it a well-known sacred mountain. Mount Fuji, an active volcano at an altitude of 3,776m, has been worshiped since ancient times as an object of worship. Its beautiful cone shape has made the viewer feel awe and has been recognized as a sacred being.

The eruption of Mount Fuji was an indication of God's wrath and an object of awe for the ancient people. Therefore, in order to calm the eruption, Asama worship was born at the foot of the mountain, enshrined the Asama Oogami (Asama no Oogami). During the Heian period, it was also used as a training ground for Shugendo to enhance the sacredness of Mt. Fuji, and many Shugenists headed towards the summit.

Mount Fuji is a special place that gives you a sense of nature's beauty and awe, and can be said to be deeply rooted in Japanese spiritual culture.

Mt. Tateyama: the strict peaks where the gods reside

Tateyama, the main peak of the Tateyama mountain range located in the Hida Mountains (northern Northern Alps), is also known as one of Japan's three sacred mountains. Mount Tateyama is not a single peak, but is a general term for the orchidate of Mt. Yuzan, Mt. Oroyama, and Fuji, and is a mountain with rare glaciers in Japan.

Since the Manyo period, Mt. Tateyama has been a subject of faith as "a mountain where the gods reside." As Buddhism spreads as the Heian period began, and a belief system of Shinto and Buddha, which combines ancient mountain beliefs with Buddhism, was formed, and it developed as a place for Shugendo.

Training at Tateyama is called "Tateyama Zenjo," and it was believed that all sinful people will fall into Tateyama Hell (Hell Valley on Tateyama). Therefore, many common people came to visit us, seeking relief by atonement for their sins through climbing Mt. Tateyama. Mt. Tateyama has been deeply worshiped by people as a place for training the mind and deepening their faith in a harsh natural environment.

Hakusan: The source of life and the sacred place of healing

Hakusan, which spans three prefectures: Ishikawa, Fukui, and Gifu, is a sacred mountain blessed with rich nature and pure water. Hakusan Hime Shrine, the head temple of Hakusan faith, is the headquarters of Hakusan Shrines, which has over 3,000 shrines across the country, and is visited by many visitors.

Hakusan Hime Shrine was founded very old, and is said to have been around Emperor Sujin (91 BC). The enshrined deities are Hakusan Hime no Ookami (Kikurihime no Kami), Izanagi no Kami, and Izanami no Kami. The vast grounds are 47,000 m2, and the approach path lined with old cedars invites visitors to a sacred space.

Hakusan is the seat of the gods that supplies the "water of life" that is essential to people living at the foot of the mountain, and has been revered as a sanctuary. Furthermore, the beautiful mountain scenery of Mt. Hakusan has given people comfort and peace, and has become a source of heart.

Hakusan was founded by Taicho, a monk of Shugendo in the Nara period. Yasusumi trained at the foot of Mt. Hakusan and received a revelation from Hakusan Hime Ogami to climb Mt. Hakusan. Then we climbed Mt. Hakusan, which no one had ever climbed, and worshiped the Eleven-Face Kannon Bodhisattva near the summit. Since Taishun's ascent, Hakusan faith has spread throughout the country.

Hakusan Hime Shrine Treasure Museum displays many valuable cultural properties, including Komainu, a national important cultural property. These cultural assets speak to the history and depth of Hakusan faith, and will captivate visitors.

Detailed information about Hakusan Hime Shrine

Address: 105-1 Sannomiya-cho, Hakusan-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

Access: Approximately 40 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station and 45 minutes from Komatsu Airport. It can also be accessed by train or bus.

Enshrined deities: Hakusan Hime Omikami (Kikurihime God), Izanai God, Izanai God, Izanai God

Common elements of the Three Sacred Mountains: Nature worship and Shinto and Buddha's customs

Although each of the three sacred mountains in Japan has different characteristics, they also share the common elements of nature worship and synopsis of Shinto and Buddha.

1. Nature worship - The ancient Japanese worship of nature is an animistic belief that gods reside in natural objects such as mountains, rivers, and forests. All three sacred mountains have been revered as sacred places due to their beautiful natural scenery and rich resources, and have created awe-inspiring people.
   
2. When Buddhism and Shinto-Buddhist synthesis were introduced to Japan, ancient nature worship and Buddhism were combined, creating a unique belief system called Shinto-Buddhist synthesis. The Three Sacred Mountains are also influenced by Buddhism, and there are forms of syncretization of Shinto and Buddhas, with temples being built within the shrine grounds and Buddhist statues being enshrined.

Summary: Three mountains symbolizing the spiritual culture of the Japanese

Japan's Three Sacred Mountains are special places that represent the beauty, awe and depth of faith in nature. Mount Fuji, Mount Tateyama, and Mount Hakusan are mountains with different personalities, but are deeply rooted in Japanese spiritual culture and have become a source of people's hearts. Visiting these sacred mountains will be a valuable experience to experience the history, culture and the power of nature in Japan.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.