Sacred Journeys With Bruce Feiler

Shikoku

The Island of Shikoku in Japan is the birthplace of the most revered figure in Japanese Buddhism, the monk and teacher Kobo Daishi, who brought a populist form of Buddhism to Japan from China in the 9th century. For hundreds of years, a 750-mile pilgrimage route has circled this mountainous island, connecting 88 separate temples and shrines that claim connection to Kobo Daishi. Feiler circles the island, following a pilgrim trail that's taken by hundreds of thousands of Japanese and international pilgrims every year, a Buddhist pilgrimage that welcomes pilgrims of all faiths. Temple priests introduce Feiler to sacred ceremonies that date back thousands of years, revealing how the presence of Kobo Daishi is believed to accompany all who follow in his footsteps.