Traversing the roads to Osorezan : priests, pilgrims, and spirit mediums at a pilgrimage site in contemporary Japan
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- The Sōtō Zen temple Osorezan Bodaiji in the northernmost part of Aomori prefecture is renowned as a place where the spirits of the dead cross into the other world and blind spirit mediums called itako perform séances. However, from the early modern period Osorezan has undergone multiple shifts in identity. The temple began its history as a local site of hot spring cures and recreation, was gradually identified with Jizō and this-worldly blessings, and then offered opportunities for pilgrims to participate in memorial services. The itako began coming to Osorezan in the contemporary period, and today only two remain and perform séances at the temple festivals. This dissertation positions the pilgrimage site Osorezan Bodaiji "in situ" within the economic, historical, and religious networks of Shimokita peninsula and investigates the roles these factors have played in its development into a major pilgrimage site. I argue that the main story of Osorezan is not the itako, or even the dead, but a wide variety of human actors that shaped the landscape and practice at the mountain. Although Osorezan is a major tourist destinations and operates on the margins of organized Buddhism, it nevertheless shares many similarities with traditional pilgrimage sites. The managing priests from Entsūji pursued political alliances, published and propagated an engi, origin tale, performed sect-sanctioned prayer services, and responded to social tragedy such as earthquakes with temple installations. Even today, pilgrims from the local area come to practice seasonal worship, make offerings to Bodhisattvas and Buddhas on the site, and participate in standard rituals for the ancestors. Osorezan faces challenges such as decline in local confraternity practice that may threaten the future of the mountain as a place of belief.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2016 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Falk, Brenda |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Religious Studies. |
| Primary advisor | Bielefeldt, Carl |
| Primary advisor | Harrison, Paul |
| Thesis advisor | Bielefeldt, Carl |
| Thesis advisor | Harrison, Paul |
| Thesis advisor | Kieschnick, John, 1964- |
| Thesis advisor | Wigen, Kären, 1958- |
| Advisor | Kieschnick, John, 1964- |
| Advisor | Wigen, Kären, 1958- |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Brenda Falk. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Religious Studies. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2016. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2016 by Brenda Marisa Falk
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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