The otherworldly abode of the gods
The Kumano faith is deeply rooted in the worship of the awe-inspiring natural environment, such as gigantic old growth trees and beautiful waterfalls, which are believed to be endowed with spirits. Kumano’s mountains are considered to be the otherworldly abode of the gods.
In the earliest written texts of Japanese history, Kumano was the “Land of Yomi”, the mythological land of the dead. It was believed that ancestral spirits ascended into the impenetrable layers of mountains stretching to the southern sea.
When Buddhism arrived in Kumano in the 6th century, it blended seamlessly with Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, to create unique forms of Buddhist-Shinto syncretism. The belief that local deities are manifestations of Buddhist entities emerged, transforming the rugged terrain of Kumano into a rich and complex spiritual matrix, a paradise on earth for purification, healing and salvation.
The main sites of worship consolidated into the Kumano Sanzan, a spiritual set of three Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. A network of routes developed, known today as the Kumano Kodo, to lead pilgrims on their arduous journey to Kumano. Devotees from all levels of society―including imperial ancestors, Samurai warlords and common people―have walked these trials seeking contact with the power of this universal sacred site.
Because of the impact the Kumano Kodo has had on the spiritual culture of Japan, it was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. These ancient routes, over peaks and through traditional ridge-top communities, are still being re-discovered and re-interpreted by present day visitors.