Shugendō mountain ascetic monks (often called Yamabushi) from Shogoin Temple have been walking in groups around Kyoto this week blowing conch shell horns and chanting prayers for supporters. They are practicioners of a mysterious syncretic folk religion over 1,000 yrs old.

This religion combines native Japanese Shinto animism, Buddhism, Taoism, and quasi-mythological mountain mysticism.

by KyotoGaijin

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