Bishamonten (Sanskrit"Vaiśravaṇa") has been one of Japan's most popular deities since Buddhism's arrival in the 6th century. Dressed in a warrior's armor, he holds a spear in his right hand and a Stupa or "Treasure Tower" in his left.

An image of Kannon from the Chichibu Kannon Pilgrimage Route Kanzeon (more commonly Kannon), the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is the...

He sits or stands on a boulder surrounded by an aureole of flame. His name, “Fudō,” simply means “Unmoved.” 

The first deity we encounter on the pilgrimage is the one who started it all.

It'll be no secret to you that we live in tough economic times. So much of the discourse surrounding dāna or generosity centers on money,...

Researching the Shikoku Henro seems like an endless collection of lists, with all the temple names and deities, the costume elements, the...