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The Outer Eight Lakes

The Outer Eight Lakes (Soto Hakkai) stretch across much of Japan, from Lake Chuzenji in Nikko to Lake Biwa north of Kyoto, more than 300 kilometers away. Like the Inner Eight Lakes (Uchi Hakkai), they were explained as sites with some link to Hasegawa Kakugyo (1541?–1646), whom the Fuji-ko confraternities claimed as their founder. Kakugyo’s biography does record austerities and suigyo purification rites at mountains and bodies of water across Japan, including two of the Outer Eight Lakes: Lake Biwa, and Lake Ashinoko in Hakone.

The Outer Eight Lakes are shown on the map below. Comparing this with the map to the right, which was printed in 1843, reveals that the eight suigyo sites that make up the Outer Eight Lakes form a loose ring around Mt. Fuji, largely in locations with a view of the mountain in the distance.

Some Fuji-ko groups, not satisfied with simply climbing Mt. Fuji and completing the circuit of the Inner Eight Lakes, began to follow in the footsteps of Kakugyo and make pilgrimage to the Outer Eight Lakes to perform suigyo there as well. A guidebook published in 1860 lists eight sites under the name “Outer Eight Lakes,” suggesting that they were well known by this time. Another document from 1876 lists a Fuji-ko group with thirteen members that completed the entire circuit. This is one of the earliest such records. The group’s pilgrimage reportedly took around two months.

外八海

外八海遍及大半個日本，從日光市的中禪寺湖到京都北面的琵琶湖，相距逾300公里，和內八海一樣，據説都是與「富士講」所奉祖師長谷川角行（1541?-1646）有關。長谷川角行生平裡的確有他在日本各地山水間苦修或行「水行」淨化的記錄，其中就有外八海中的兩處：琵琶湖和箱根的蘆之湖。

外八海分佈圖如下。對比右側這張1843年的地圖，可以看出八處水行地圍繞富士山形成了一個鬆散的圓環，且景點大都能遠眺富士。

一些富士講團體不滿足於僅僅登上富士山和巡禮內八海，開始追隨著長谷川角行的足跡朝聖外八海、行水行儀式。一本1860年的旅行指南上已經出現了「外八海」之說，說明當時外八海是廣為人知的巡禮路線。

外八海

外八海遍及大半个日本，从日光市的中禅寺湖到京都北面的琵琶湖，相距逾300公里。和内八海一样，它们也被认为与“富士讲”所奉祖师长谷川角行(1541?-1646)有关。长谷川角行生平里的确有他在日本各地山水间苦修或行“水行”净化的记录，其中就有外八海中的两处：琵琶湖和箱根的芦之湖。

外八海分布图如下。对比右侧这张1843年的地图，可以看出，八处水行地围绕富士山组成了一个松散的圆环，且大都能远望富士。

一些富士讲组织不满足于仅仅登上富士山和巡礼内八海，开始追随着长谷川角行的足迹朝圣外八海，行水行仪式。一本1860年的旅行指南上已经出现了“外八海”之说，说明当时它们已广为人知。