An English Translation of Hachiju-hakkasho Shikoku Reigenki ZueTemple miracle tales along the Shikoku pilgrimage -Temple miracle tales along the Shikoku pilgrimage-

概要

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The Hachijuhakkasho Shikoku Reigenki Zue, An illustrated record of the miracle tales of the eighty-eight places of Shikoku, published in 1886, consists of three books that describe the history and miracle tales of only the twenty-three temples in Tokushima prefecture. This translation does not present the history of each temple, but only of the tales connected to each site. The stories seen here are based on such themes as the power of prayer, the importance of making the Shikoku pilgrimage, and the consequences that come from being good or evil. There are also tales of people being cured from such illnesses as leprosy, fever, blindness, sensitivity to cold and hemorrhoids, and of people's lands becoming fertile. In many cases, beautiful illustrations accompany the story. At present, there is a very limited amount of material in English about the temples along the Shikoku pilgrimage and this translation will play an important role in fulfilling a want for more information on the theme of temples and tales. This paper will demonstrate how important it was to be faithful and pious, and will present an interesting insight into the religious culture of Japan and the psyche of the Japanese people during the 19th Century.