Kumano Shrine - Kumano Sanzan

Kumano Sanzan

The three Kumano Sanzan shrines are the Sōhonsha ("head shrines") of all Kumano shrines and lie between 20 to 40 km from each other. They are connected to each other by the pilgrimage route known as "Kumano Sankeimichi" (熊野参詣道?). The great Kumano Sanzan complex also includes two Buddhist temples, Seiganto-ji and Fudarakusan-ji.

The religious significance of the Kumano region goes back to prehistoric times and therefore predates all modern religions in Japan. The area was, and still is, considered a place of physical healing. Each shrine initially had its own separate form of nature worship, but in the 10th century, under the influence of Buddhism, the three came to be worshiped together as the three deities of Kumano. Because at the time Japanese kami were believed to be emanations of Indian buddhas (honji suijaku theory), the three came to be associated with the Buddhas Amida Nyorai, Yakushi Nyorai and Senju Kannon. The site became, therefore, a unique example of fusion between Buddhism and Japanese original cults (see the article Shinbutsu shūgō). Thereafter the Kumano Sanzan site attracted many worshipers and became a popular pilgrimage destination. In the 11th century pilgrims were mostly members of the Imperial family or aristocrats, but four centuries later they were mostly commoners. Pilgrims were called the "Kumano ants" (蟻の熊野) because they could be seen winding through the valleys like so many ants.