There is a buddhist temple in japan where monks walk 24,000 miles as a part of a religious practice to clarify the mind and spirit. The determination and perseverance that is shown by the marathon monks lends inspiration to all martial artists and shows that we can always strive for something greater beyond our present limitations. Much like the monks own practices, this is to everyones benefit. Author john stevens, in his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei, describes the long distance walking style which dates back over a thousand years. More amazing is the manner and the conditions in which the monks run. It is at the border between the kyoto and shiga prefectures, japan mount hiei appeared in many folk tales in different centuries. The siege of mount hiei, hieizan no tatakai took place in 1571 and was a battle between the warlord oda nobunaga and the sohei warrior monks of the monasteries of mount hiei, north of the capital city kyoto, western japan oda nobunaga led 30,000 men in destroying towns and temples on the mountain and near its base. The most admirable thing about the hiei gyoja is their warmth, openheartedness and humanity facing death over and over, the marathon monks become alive to each moment, full of gratitude, joy and grace. The marathon monks of mount hiei by john stevens, paperback. The spiritual athletes path to enlightenment by holly a. Tiantai sect of buddhism, was founded atop mount hiei by saicho in 788.
The temple was protected by terrible warrior monks who imposed their will in kyoto. Hiei, mount, japanese hieizan, mountain 2,782 feet 845 meters high near kyoto, the location of the enryaku temple, a tendai buddhist monastery complex built by the monk saicho 767822. Before beginning kaihogyo, the monks have 1 week of training in which they are shown the course by a senior monk, and given a book that contains maps of the course and a description of the mantras to say at sacred locations. Endurance beyond belief the marathon monks of mount.
The film follows tanno kakudo, who, over seven years, completes marathon pilgrimages to the 270 sacred sites on mount hiei, central japan. Japanese monks endure with a vow of patience the new york times. John stevens author, the marathon monks of mount hiei. If you commit to nothing, youll be distracted by everything. They worship a deity known as fudo myoo the wrathful. In japan last year, endo mitsunaga, a 34yearold monk, became the th monk since world war ii to complete the sennichi kaihogyo, 1,000 days of walking meditation and prayer around mount hiei. In his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei, john stevens sums up the greatest contributions of these spiritual adventurers. The greatest athletes in the world today are neither the olympic champions nor the. The marathon monks of mount hiei trail runner magazine. Mount hiei, hieizan is a mountain to the northeast of kyoto city. Although its possible to visit enryakuji by public transport nowadays, i think its much more fitting to visit the hallowed temple in the historical fashion on.
Mount hiei simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. May 11, 2010 in japan last year, endo mitsunaga, a 34yearold monk, became the th monk since world war ii to complete the sennichi kaihogyo, 1,000 days of walking meditation and prayer around mount hiei. It is there that in 788 the monk saicho received permission to found a monastery that was to protect the capital, as the north is the direction from which come bad influences. Comparing prices for the marathon monks of mount hiei. Choosing suicide if they fail to complete the journey, and often dying en route, these monks undertake a perilous journey to enlightenment. Mount hiei hiei zan guards the northeastern approach to kyoto.
Those graves mark the final resting place of the tendai buddhist monks who have failed to complete a quest known as the kaihogyo. Posted on january 5, 2018 april 12, 2020 by dharma documentaries. If you are not into trekking and hiking, no worries, a toll road provides access by automobile to the top of the mountain. These monks are from the tendai school of buddhism, a denomination brought to japan by the monk saicho in 806 from china. In 1573, the warriormonks of nagashima attacked an. Hiei, mount, mountain 2,782 feet 845 meters high near kyoto, the location of the enryaku temple, a tendai buddhist monastery complex built by the monk saicho 767822. Mount hiei hieizan, is a mountain that lies to the northeast of kyoto in the sakamoto region of otsu. These graves are the resting place of those buddhist monks, who couldnt complete a spiritual challenge called the kaihogyo. The lotus sect only lost their power and influence when the warrior monks of enryakuji temple attacked kyoto and destroyed all twentyone of the sects fortified temples. Illustrated with superb photographs, the book also contains the first fulllength study in english of mount hiei and tendai buddhism. The marathon monks of japan awesci science everyday.
This book covers an insane group of japanese monks who have to do. I love running and love reading about endurance athletes. The first is the extraordinary story of one tendai monk in japan who undertakes one of the most difficult and dangerous austerities i have come across, walking on foot round mount hiei times in a pilgrimage spread out over seven years, and covering a total of some 24,000 miles by completion. View all restaurants near mount hiei on tripadvisor. The kaihogyo circling the mountain is a set of the ascetic spiritual training for which the buddhist marathon monks of mt. Hiei, all its temples, monasteries, and denizens including the monks concubines and illegitimate kids were all put to the sword and the entire place was burned down to ashes. Endurance beyond belief the marathon monks of mount hiei. The sacred mountain and its remote yokawa precinct are mentioned in the uji chapters of the tale of genji. A hike to the top provides beautiful panoramic views of the city and the countryside. Hiei is an extreme physical challenge that involves an inordinate amount of running and other related endurance activities, which if a monk fails to.
In the northeastern hills outside kyoto, japan there is a mountain known as mount hiei. Sep 21, 2019 marathon monks of mount hiei is a documentary directed by christopher j. Marathon monks of mount hiei religious behaviour and. The siege of mount hiei, hieizan no tatakai took place in 1571 and was a battle between the warlord oda nobunaga and the sohei warrior monks of the monasteries of mount hiei, north of the capital city kyoto, western japan. This is the access point for mount hiei and at its summit the unesco world heritage site enryakuji temple. The severe conditions under which these monks trained cannot but lead the reader to see life in an entirely new perspective and question superficial selfimposed.
The extraordinary pilgrimage of a buddhist monk belonging to the tendai sect of buddhism in japan. It lasts days, commonly distributed in 100day chunks over a period of seven years, and in addition to traditional monastic chores, it includes no end of kaihogyo, literally. The gyoja are a sect of tendai buddhists residing on japans mount hiei who have come to be known as the marathon monks for their spiritual athleticism. He also carries a small bag that holds his secret holy book, which will. Author john stevens, in his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei writes about the running style. A reluctant walkers hike up mount hiei, kyoto insidejapan. Eyes focused about 100 feet ahead while moving in a steady rhythm, keeping the head level, the shoulders relaxed, the back straight, and the nose aligned with the navel. Mar 31, 2015 legend has it that the monks of mount hiei run 1,000 marathons in 1,000 days in their quest to reach enlightenment. Mount hiei, hieizan is a mountain to the northeast of kyoto, lying on the border between the kyoto and shiga prefectures, japan. Traditionally, people believed it to be the home of gods and demons of shinto references. The marathon monks of mount hiei, by john stevens inquiring mind. Legend has it that the monks of mount hiei run 1,000 marathons in 1,000.
Traditionally, people believed it to be the home of gods and demons of shinto. Marathon monks of mount hiei is a documentary directed by christopher j. The japanese monk who hiked a mountain for 1,000 days. Kakudo is one of the marathon monks of mount hiei, and this will be. The marathon monks of mount hiei by john stevens goodreads. Author john stevens, in his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei describes the running style which dates back over a thousand years. The greatest athletes in the world today are neither the olympic champions nor the stars of professional sports, but the marathon monks of japans sacred mount hiei. Oda nobunaga versus warriormonks of mount hiei, 1571. Jun 10, 2007 a strict regimen dictates that in each of the journeys first three years, the pilgrim must rise at midnight for 100 consecutive days to pray and run along an 18mile trail around mount hiei, on. Mount hiei appeared in many folk tales in different centuries. They worship a deity known as fudo myoo the wrathful king of mystic knowledge in shingon buddhism. The marathon monks of mount hiei, written and produced by christopher j.
On the 49th day after yugaos death, genji sponsors a reading of the lotus sutra for her at the hokkedo in the saito, or west precinct. The marathon monks of mount hiei 1992 57 minutes documentary available on vhs the narrator opens this 57 minute documentary by saying. The ultimate test of human athletic endurance is the marathon. Marathon monks of mount hiei documentary insight state. It is also possible to hike up mount hiei from shugakuin. May 12, 2011 the marathon monks of mount hiei put olympic athletes to shame duration. Here the eizan main line and the kurama line separate. John stevens is an expert in the art of aikido and an authority in the more gentle art of buddhism.
In 1571, the warlord oda nobunaga, in order to unify japan, attacked the mountain by burning down its temples and massacring its population. Hayden, is based on a book of the same title by john stevens. Japanese monks endure with a vow of patience the new. Hiei, trails are sprinkled with the graves of monks who failed, either expiring from injuries, stopped by the elements, or by way of ritual suicide. This account of the walking or marathon monks of mount hiei in japan, who have been performing an extraordinary mountain pilgrimage for over years, describes their rituals of chanting, meditation and exercise, culminating in walks of. Hiei is a documentation of a sect of tendai buddhist monks in the mountains outside kyoto, japan. Author john stevens, in his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei, describes the long. This challenge, kaihogyo, which has killed several monks on mt. Mount hiei is the home of enryakuji, the head temple of the tendai school of buddhism, founded by the monk saicho also known by his posthumous name dengyo daishi in 788 ad. Unique within their journey of personal enlightenment is the incorporation 100days or 1,000days of consecutive marathon distance 4080km pilgrimages through their mountain homes. What i learned when i met the monk who ran 1,000 marathons. The attack by oda nobunga on the fortress monastery of hiei was such a massacre it is an exaggeration to classify it as a battle. Hiei is the first book in english on the kaihogyo, an arduous ascetic practice carried out on mount hiei, the site of the tendai sects headquarter temple of enryakuji.
The participants are more commonly referred to as the marathon monks of mount hiei. During this nine day period, he is not allowed to eat, sleep, or drink as ensured by the other two monks with him except for a quaff of water from a spiritual fountain every day at 2 am. Since many travelers come here from kyoto, they often enter from the town of yase at the base of the mountain on the kyoto side. Warrior monks of feudal japanthese monks did not always. It is famed for the extensive temple complex near the summit. Mount hiei hieizan guards the northeastern approach to kyoto.
The professor studied at mt hiei and wrote a book about its special inhabitants. These are two films having the same subject, but only partly overlapping content. This station is also convenient for the popular recreation spot, takaragaike park. The mount hiei is a mountain popular with hikers and trekkers. Mount hiei is located in the north east of kyoto, away from the ancient capital. The 16 th century was both the golden age, and the downfall, of the warrior monks. The practice is called the kaihogyo practice of circling the mountains. The marathon monks of mount hiei by books of titans. Feb 28, 20 the reader will learn about the monks deathdefying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. The assault began on 29th september 1571 with the burning of the town of sakamoto at the base of the mountain. Legend has it that the monks of mount hiei run 1,000 marathons in 1,000 days in their quest to reach enlightenment. This account of the walking or marathon monks of mount hiei in japan, who have been performing an extraordinary mountain pilgrimage for over years, describes their rituals of chanting, meditation and exercise, culminating in walks of over miles and nine days without food or sleep. Marathon monks john stevens wrote the book the marathon monks of mount hiei, chronicling the practice of walking long distances up to 52 miles 84 km a day for 100 straight days, in an effort to attain enlightenment. A strict regimen dictates that in each of the journeys first three years, the pilgrim must rise at midnight for 100 consecutive days to pray and run along an 18mile trail around mount hiei, on.
The monk, guided by two others, enters mount hieis temple for nine days of prayer and only prayer. The marathon monks of mount hiei put olympic athletes to shame duration. After the first 100 days, a monk who is unable to complete his practice must choose between disembowelment and hanging himself with his safety rope. Mount hiei is located next to kyoto, japan and is a spiritual center of great importance. Oda nobunaga led 30,000 men in destroying towns and temples on the mountain and near its base.
Echo point books has recently republished john stevenss the marathon monks of mount hiei. The sennichi kaihogyo is the summit of achievement for monks of the tendai buddhist order, the fabled marathon monks, or running buddhas of mt hiei. Review john stevens, the marathon monks of mount hiei. This weeks book i obtained from the list of sources in last weeks book. Mount hiei towards the end of my trip to japan, on a bright and sunny day, i stood at the foot of mount hiei having been told that it wasnt going to be impossible for me to reach the summit on a noncalifornian, fullyjapanese hike. The story of the marathon monks of mount hiei is the ultimate inspirational story for ultrarunners and that is why it is featured on this page. Dec 21, 2016 the determination and perseverance that is shown by the marathon monks lends inspiration to all martial artists and shows that we can always strive for something greater beyond our present limitations. Marathon monks of mount hiei is the aweinspiring story of the trials and triumphs of the running buddhas of tendai buddhism. The marathon monks live in a small mountain monastery below the fabled world of enryakuji temple, the tendai sect of esoteric buddhism. The monks risking death on an extraordinary journey youtube.
Jan 24, 2018 author john stevens, in his book, the marathon monks of mount hiei writes about the running style. The spiritual athletes path to enlightenment marathon. The temple of enryakuji, the first outpost of the japanese tendai chin. Choosing suicide if they fail to complete the journey, and often dying en route, these monks undertake a perilous journey to. The reader will learn about the monks deathdefying fasts, their vegetarian training diet, their handmade straw running shoes, and feats of endurance such as their ceremonial leap into a waterfall. Those who succeed become revered, as human buddhas or living saints. Nov 17, 2009 mount hieis marathon monks the marathon monks live in a small mountain monastery below the fabled world of enryakuji temple, the tendai sect of esoteric buddhism. The main cause of the decline of the warrior monks was the warlord, oda nobunaga.
145 594 626 601 200 254 1076 212 828 567 446 1162 718 293 914 626 172 914 1255 423 178 451 494 1505 7 1046 1097 906 1005 1288 1127 89 1223 718 1314 659 704 239 872 261 1445 656 994 981 1216 1413 533