Choishimichi Walk….3　

Kayatree(Nutmegtree)

Nutmeg trees you can see in the neighborhood of the Daimon (Great Gate) at the entrance to Koyasan

Picture of the confiers on which fruits of the Nutmeg tree grow. The fruit of the nutmeg tree contains white seeds from which oil can be produced.

Between the stone marker 157 and 156 you will find a large platform with a crossing commonly called “Zenitsubo” which is located in the area of Yamazaki.

This place is also accessible by car. In the cemetery of the Oku-no-in on Koyasan you wiil find hundreds of thousand of grave stones which were carried by this stone marker path. The steep gradient, often a very narrow way  impost  a lot of labour on coolies and additionally it was also so dangerous that coolies often escaped. To encourage the coolies for the job the “Zenitsubo”, a ceramic vase-like container filled with money was placed near the deep gradient so that they could take out as much money  as they could with one hand at a time.

Putting one hand into the neck of the “Zenitsubo” in order to grasp the money was very easy, but pulling back the round fist with money became quite difficult, because the neck was quite narrow. Maybe it’s similar to the lottery during the sale period in shopping areas?

Isn’t there any old money still under the ground?

 “Zenitsubo” platform

Drawing of the 72 coolies ( Drawing of the famous place of Kinokuni)

For a while a more gentle gradient permits a pleasant walk on the hiking path while the refreshing phytoncide of the wood pours over you. Between the stone marker 148 and 147 a Buddhist sculpture representing Kobo Daishi will catch the attention of hikers. It is said that praying in front of this Kobo Daishi is  equivalent to having prayed in front of the far mausoleum on Koyasan. Every year during the day of the Mieku ceremony (Memorial service for Kobo Daishi), (lunar calendar the 3^rd month, 21^st Day) volunteers of the village offered a welcome service offering rice balls and tea for visitors on the way to Koyasan. Therefore this area is called “Settai-jo”, a service place.

Continuation of the flat path in the wood. You leave the car at  “Zenitsubo”, walk to”Roppon Sugi” and back (4 km). This path is called the path of philosophy.
“Settai-jo” between the stone marker 148 and 147

Buddhist stone sculpture of Kobo Daishi

Close to the Stone marker 144 is the first “Riseki”. One “ri” is equivalent to 36 chou. This kind of measure for distance originated in Koyasan…..(1 ri equal to 36 cho is 3.927 km).

Stone marker 136 at “Roppon sugi” at the end of the stone stairs

 Let’s have a rest here at “Roppon sugi”!