Yamabushi Explained

are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits.^[1] They are generally part of the syncretic religion, which includes Tantric Buddhist, Shinto, and Japanese Taoist elements.^[2]

Their origins can be traced back to the solitary Yama-bito and some (saints or holy persons) of the eighth and ninth centuries.^[3]

According to American writer Frederik L. Schodt:

Clothing and items

The Yamabushi usually wear and bring the following clothes and items with them:^{[4] [5]}

• Yuigesa (Japanese: 結袈裟), a harness or sash adorned with pom-poms
• Kyahan (Japanese: 脚絆), sandals made from straw
• Tokin (Japanese: 頭巾) which is a small hat-like adornment worn at the front of the head
• Shakujō (Japanese: 錫杖), a metal rod, held in their hands
• Oi (Japanese: 笈), backpack
• Horagai (Japanese: 法螺貝), a conch shell, which they blow like a horn to bind evil spirits

See also

• Cunning folk
• Mount Ōfuna
• Shaolin Monastery
• Yama-bito
• Yamabushitake

Further reading

• Book: Ratti. Oscar. Westbrook. Adele. Secrets of the Samurai: A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan. 1999. Castle Books. Edison, New Jersey. 0785810730. registration.
• News: Powell . Steve John. Cabello. Angeles Marin . Japan's Mountain Ascetic Hermits . . May 12, 2021 .

Notes and References

1. Book: Nelson. Andrew Nathaniel. The Original Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary. 1995. C. E. Tuttle Co.. Rutland, Vermont. 9780804819657. 134, 346. Classic.
2. Web site: Exoteric Buddhism, Esoteric Buddhism, and Shugendo - 顕教・密教・修験道. live. www.tendai-jimon.jp. Tendaijimon Sect. https://web.archive.org/web/20201221152905/http://www.tendai-jimon.jp/trainee/index.html. 31 January 2021. 2020-12-21.
3. Book: Blacker. Carmen. The Catalpa Bow: A Study of Shamanistic Practices in Japan. 1999. Japan Library. Richmond, Virginia. 1873410859. 165–167. 3rd.
4. Web site: 小項目事典,世界大百科事典内言及 . 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),百科事典マイペディア,旺文社日本史事典 三訂版,デジタル大辞泉,事典・日本の観光資源,世界大百科事典 第２版,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 . 山伏(やまぶし)とは？ 意味や使い方 . 2023-06-02 . コトバンク . ja.
5. Web site: Cabello . Steve John Powell & Angeles Marin . Japan's mountain ascetic hermits . 2023-06-02 . www.bbc.com . en.