Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Encyclopedia
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
located on the Kii Peninsula
in Japan
.
s. It was also noted for its fusion of Shinto
and Buddhist
beliefs, and a well documented history of traditions over 1,200 years. The nature scenery on the Kii peninsula was also taken into consideration, with its many stream
s, river
s and waterfall
s. Technically, independent structures at nominated temples and shrines were nominated for this distinction, and not the entire establishments. Sections of the trail
s were included for this nomination, but not the full length of their expanses. A total of 242 elements were selected from sites and pilgrimage routes for nomination.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
located on the Kii Peninsula
Kii Peninsula
The is the largest peninsula on the island of Honshū in Japan. The area south of the “Central Tectonic Line” is called Nankii , and includes the most poleward living coral reefs in the world due to the presence of the warm Kuroshio Current, though these are threatened by global warming and human...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Selection criteria
The locations and paths for this heritage site were based on their historical and modern importance in religious pilgrimagePilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s. It was also noted for its fusion of Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
and Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
beliefs, and a well documented history of traditions over 1,200 years. The nature scenery on the Kii peninsula was also taken into consideration, with its many stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s, river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s and waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s. Technically, independent structures at nominated temples and shrines were nominated for this distinction, and not the entire establishments. Sections of the trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s were included for this nomination, but not the full length of their expanses. A total of 242 elements were selected from sites and pilgrimage routes for nomination.
List of sites
| Area | Cultural asset | Type | Location | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Mountain | Yoshino-chō Yoshino, Nara is a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the town had an estimated population of 9397 and a density of 97.93 persons per km². The total area was 95.65 km².-Geography:... , Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken Nara Prefecture is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture.... |
||
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Shinto shrine | Yoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken | ||
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Shinto shrine | Yoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken | ||
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Shugendō Shugendo is a highly syncretic Buddhic religion or sect and mystical-spiritual tradition which originated in pre-Feudal Japan, in which enlightenment is equated with attaining oneness with the . This perception of experiential "awakening" is obtained through the understanding of the relationship between... /Buddhist temple Buddhist temples in Japan Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In... |
Yoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken | ||
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Shinto shrine | Yoshino-chō, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken | ||
| Yoshino and Ōmine | Shugendō temple | Tenkawa-mura Tenkawa, Nara is a village located in Yoshino District, Nara, Japan.As of July 2009, the village has an estimated population of 1,823 and a density of 10.38 persons per km²... , Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken |
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| Kumano Sanzan | Shinto shrine | Tanabe-shi Tanabe, Wakayama is the second biggest city in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008 , the city has an estimated population of 80,398 and a density of 78.3 persons per km². The total area is 1026.77 km². The city was founded on May 20, 1942.Tanabe is on the coast and surrounded by mountains... , Wakayama-ken Wakayama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :... |
 |
|
| Kumano Sanzan | Shinto shrine | Shingū-shi Shingu, Wakayama is a city located in Wakayama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 32,288, with a household number of 16,003, and the density of 126.41 persons per km². The total area is 255.43 km².... , Wakayama-ken; Kiho-chō Kiho, Mie is a town located in Minamimuro District, Mie, Japan.On January 10, 2006 the village of Udono from Minamimuro District was merged into Kihō.As of 2010 the town has an estimated population of 12,007 and a density of 151 persons per km². The total area is 79.66 km².-External links:*... , Minamimuro-gun, Mie-ken Mie Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province.... |
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| Kumano Sanzan | Shinto shrine | Nachikatsuura-chō Nachikatsuura, Wakayama is a town located in Higashimuro District, Wakayama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 18,795 and a density of 102.45 persons per km². The total area is 183.45 km².... , Higashimuro-gun Higashimuro District, Wakayama Higashimuro is a district located in Wakayama, Japan. As of September 1, 2008, the district has an estimated Population of 43,306 and a Density of 64.8 persons/km²... , Wakayama-ken |
||
| Kumano Sanzan | Tendai Tendai is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :... Buddhist temple |
Nachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken | ||
| Kumano Sanzan | Waterfall | Nachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken | ||
| Kumano Sanzan | Forest | Nachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken | ||
| Kumano Sanzan | Tendai Buddhist temple | Nachikatsuura-chō, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken | ||
| Kōyasan | Shinto shrine | Katsuragi-chō Katsuragi, Wakayama is a town located in Ito District, Wakayama, Japan.As of September 30, 2010, the town has an estimated population of 18,948 and a density of 124.88 persons per km². The total area is 151.73 km².... , Ito-gun Ito District, Wakayama is a district located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of September 1, 2008, the district has an estimated population of 28,171 and a density of 84.6 persons/km². The total area is 332.93 km².- Towns and villages :* Katsuragi* Kōya* Kudoyama- Timeline :... , Wakayama-ken |
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| Kōyasan | Shingon Buddhist temple | Kōya-chō Koya, Wakayama is a town located on a plateau atop Mt. Koya in Ito District, Wakayama, Japan. The town is known as the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.... , Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken |
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| Kōyasan | Shingon Buddhist temple | Kudoyama-chō Kudoyama, Wakayama is a town located in Ito District, Wakayama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,801 and a density of 131.27 persons per km². The total area is 44.19 km².-External links:*... , Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken |
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| Kōyasan | Shinto shrine | Kudoyama-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken | ||
| Pilgrimage Routes | Trail | Villages between Nara and Wakayama prefectures | ||
| Pilgrimage Routes | , including | Trail | Across Mie and Wakayama prefectures | |
| Pilgrimage Routes | Trail | Villages in Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken |
See also
- Tourism in JapanTourism in JapanTourism in Japan attracted 8.3 million foreign visitors in 2008, slightly more than Singapore and Ireland. Japan has 16 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle and Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . Kyoto receives over 30 million tourists annually...
- List of World Heritage Sites in Japan