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【Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage: Historical Overview】

The Chichibu pilgrimage route is one part of the 100 Kannon Pilgrimage, three connected paths that link 100 temples across the regions of Chichibu, Bandō, and Saikoku. The 100 Kannon Pilgrimage route stretches some 1,200 kilometers, from Seigantoji Temple in Wakayama Prefecture to Suisenji Temple in the town of Minano, near Chichibu. Each of the temples along the route enshrine a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon, Goddess of Compassion. A stele discovered in the ruins of Iwao Castle, in Nagano, is inscribed with writing that indicates pilgrims have been traveling the route since at least 1525. However, the route may have existed even centuries earlier. A collection of folktales from the Heian period (794–1185) mentions a “man who cleansed himself and made offerings at 100 shrines to Kannon on the eighteenth of each month.”

In the Lotus Sutra, a fundamental piece of scripture in many schools of Buddhism, Kannon is portrayed in 33 different forms. Before the 100 Kannon Pilgrimage was established, each of the three pilgrimage routes visited 33 statues of Kannon. Sometime around the early sixteenth century, a thirty-fourth temple (Shinfukuji, #2) was added to the Chichibu pilgrimage to create a single, unbroken route of 100 temples.

Although the Bandō and Saikoku pilgrimages can take weeks to complete, the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage is popular for being less strenuous. The Chichibu pilgrimage is tightly grouped within the Chichibu Basin and can be completed in just a few days. The route is about 90 kilometers long, and some portions can even be traveled by car.

Particularly during Japan’s medieval period (twelfth to sixteenth centuries), travel between regions was tightly controlled. The Chichibu route, being so compact, did not require travelers to pass through any checkpoints, and it was very popular with pilgrims. Even after the start of the Edo period (1603–1867), when travel restrictions were relaxed, the Chichibu pilgrimage remained popular.

Beginning in the late seventeenth century, worship of Kannon became fashionable, and the 34 Kannon Pilgrimage Route experienced a boom in popularity. Several times during the eighteenth century, the 34 Kannon statues were publicly displayed in Edo (now Tokyo), and the interest generated by these exhibitions led to an explosion in the number of pilgrims who traveled to Chichibu. Every day between 1804 and 1830, some 20,000 to 30,000 pilgrims were recorded on the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage. This popularity has remained strong even to the present day: Over 180,000 people were recorded on the Chichibu pilgrimage route between April and June of 1996, when all 34 temples were opened up to display the Kannon statues inside.

Although many aspects of pilgrimage culture, such as the clothing and other accoutrements, have become codified by tradition, the routes themselves do not need to be completed in any prescribed order. Pilgrims can follow the order of the temple numbers (jun-uchi), start at the final temple and work backward (gyaku-uchi), or travel in any other order. Along the way, it is customary to collect a record of your visit to each temple, most often in the form of a stamp (goshuin) in a special notebook. Temples also commonly sell small protective charms (omamori) that bestow a variety of boons and benefits.

秩父三十四觀音靈剎巡禮：歷史概觀

秩父巡禮路是「日本百座觀音靈場巡禮路」中的一段。與坂東、西國巡禮路相交，連結了秩父、坂東、西國三地共一百座供奉觀世音菩薩的靈場。這百座觀音靈場巡禮路全長約1200公里，始於和歌山縣的青岸渡寺，結束於秩父地區皆野町的水潛寺。沿途的所有寺廟均供奉大慈大悲觀世音菩薩塑像。據長野縣岩尾城遺址發掘的石碑記載，這條朝聖路線的形成至少可溯源至1525年。不過，該朝聖路線可能早已存在於數世紀前。在平安時代（794-1185）的民間口傳故事集中，就曾記載過一位「每逢十八日，必沐浴淨身，遍朝百座靈場」的男子。

在眾多佛教宗派的基本經典《法華經》中，觀音被描繪成三十三種各異形貌。於百座觀音靈場巡禮儀式確立之前，秩父、坂東、西國三個地區都各有尋訪當地靈場，朝拜三十三態觀音的巡禮路線。16世紀初，秩父第三十四座觀音寺，現巡禮路線的第二寺「真福寺」建成後，完成了今日可一路遍訪百座觀音靈場的朝聖之路。

步行朝拜坂東、西國兩條巡禮路所有寺廟通常需耗時數週，秩父巡禮路卻因其相對輕鬆方便而廣受歡迎。該路線總長約90公里，各寺院緊密地分佈於秩父盆地內，步行僅耗數日便可一一巡遊，一部分路段還可開車造訪。

日本中世紀（12-16世紀）時，地域間的往來受到嚴格管制。但因秩父巡禮路的寺院分佈密集，巡訪其間無需通過管制關卡，從而受到巡禮者青睞。到了江戶時代（1603-1867），各地通行管制逐步開放，為秩父的觀音靈場博得了更多人氣。

17世紀後期起，觀音崇拜普遍風行，三十四觀音巡禮同樣受到信徒愛戴矚目。18世紀時，江戶（現在的東京）曾多次舉辦三十四態觀世音佛像展，秩父巡禮更是廣受民眾關注，巡禮人數爆增。1804年至1830年間，秩父三十四觀音靈場巡遊的人數甚至高達每日兩萬到三萬人。直至今日秩父巡禮路的人氣仍經久不衰。1996年4月到6月，歷時兩個月的三十四觀音總開帳（日本寺院的佛像通常被供奉在隱密的神龕中，以數年為期限定期開放，供信眾參拜，謂之開帳）期間，曾吸引超過18萬人造訪。

儘管如今的巡禮從服裝到裝備等側面要素完全忠於傳統，但在巡禮順序上其實無需循規蹈矩。沿著巡禮路線的寺院序號順行參拜稱為「順打」，逆向拜謁則稱「逆打」。但參拜者也可根據喜好需求尋訪。此外，參拜時還有在造訪的寺院收集參拜記錄的慣例，通常是在「御朱印帳」上請寺院加蓋專用印璽「御朱印」。此外，可在各寺求取精緻小巧的「御守」護身符，以祈求觀音庇護與福報。

秩父三十四观音灵场巡礼：历史概观

秩父巡礼路是“日本百座观音灵场巡礼路”中的一段。与坂东、西国巡礼路相交，连结了秩父、坂东、西国三地共一百座供奉观世音菩萨的灵刹。百座观音灵场巡礼路全长约1200公里，始于和歌山县的青岸渡寺，终于秩父地区皆野町的水潜寺。沿途的所有寺庙均供奉大慈大悲观世音菩萨塑像。据长野县岩尾城遗址发掘的石碑记载，这条朝圣路线的形成至少可溯源至1525年。不过，该朝圣路线可能早已存在于数世纪前。在平安时代（794-1185）的民间话本中，就曾记载过一位“每逢十八日，必沐浴净身，遍朝百座灵场”的男子。

在众多佛教宗派的基本经典《法华经》中，观音被描绘成三十三身形貌。于百座观音灵场巡礼仪式确立之前，秩父、坂东、西国三个地区都各有寻访当地灵刹，朝拜三十三态观音的巡礼路线。16世纪初，秩父第三十四座观音寺，现巡礼路线的第二寺“真福寺”建成，凑成了今日可一路遍访百座观音灵场的最终形态。

步行朝拜坂东、西国两条巡礼路所有寺庙通常需耗时数周，秩父巡礼路却因其轻松快捷而广受追捧。该路线总长约90公里，各寺院紧密地分布于秩父盆地内，步行仅耗数日便可一一巡游，一部分路段还可开车造访。

日本中世纪（12-16世纪）时，地域间的往来受到尤为严格的管制。但因秩父巡礼路的寺院分布紧凑，巡访其间无需通过管制关卡，从而受到巡礼者青睐。到了江户时代（1603-1867），各地通行管制得以缓解，为秩父的观音灵场博得了更多人气。

17世纪后期起，观音崇拜广为流传，三十四观音巡礼同样受到万众瞩目。18世纪时，江户（现在的东京）多次举办三十四态观世音佛像展，秩父巡礼更是广受民众关注，巡礼人数呈现爆发性增长。1804年至1830年间，秩父三十四观音灵场巡游的人数更是飙升至每日两万到三万人。直至今日秩父巡礼路的人气仍经久不衰。1996年4月到6月，历时两个月的三十四观音总开帐（日本佛像通常供奉在关闭的神龛中，以数年为期限定期开放，供信众参拜，谓之开帐）期间，曾吸引超过18万人造访。

尽管如今的巡礼从服装到装备等文化要素方面完全忠于传统，但在巡礼顺序上无需循规蹈矩。沿着巡礼路线的寺院序号顺行参拜称“顺打”，逆向拜谒称“逆打”。也可根据各自情况按任意顺序寻访。此外，还有在已造访寺院收集参拜记录的惯例。通常是在“御朱印帐”上加盖各寺印玺“御朱印”。还可在各寺求取精致小巧的“御守”护身符，以求得各种好运与福报。