Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler

The Japanese island of Shikoku 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 Daishi, also known as the Great Master. Each leg of the journey represents a stage of the path to nirvana: awakening, austerity and discipline, enlightenment, and nirvana. Religion: Buddhism Earliest pilgrimage on record: 1600s; The first guidebook was written in 1687 Frequency: Year round Duration: About 45 days on foot Annual participants: 200,000 Geographical size: 750-mile pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku Following in the footsteps of: Buddhist monk Kobo-Daishi