Report on the Symposium in FY 2019
Many Minds Many Hearts One Shikoku“To Make the Shikoku Henro a World Heritage Site”
International Symposium
Date and Time:
Venue:
Program:

Organizers:

Saturday, January 25, 2020. 1:15~4:30 p.m.
Ehime University Nanka Memorial Hall
(3, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture)■ Keynote Report:
What Is the Outstanding Universal Value of the Shikoku
Henro?
Akihiro Kinda (Kyoto Institute, Library and Archives, Kyoto
Prefectural University)■ Keynote Lecture:
Trends of World Cultural Heritage Program and Asian
Pilgrimage
Gamini Wijesuriya (former Project Manager, ICCROM)■ Panel Discussion:
The Value of the Shikoku Henro and Challenges in Its
Inscription on the World Heritage ListFacilitator:
Nobuko Inaba (Professor, University of Tsukuba)
Panelists:
Gamini Wijesuriya (former Project Manager, ICCROM,)
Chihei Suzuki (Senior Cultural Properties Specialist, Officefor International Cooperation on Cultural Heritages, Cultural
Resources Utilization Division, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Hikaru Ebesu (Director, the Research Center for the Shikoku
Henro and Pilgrimage of the World, Ehime University)
Organized by:
The Shikoku Henro World Heritage Inscription Council
Research Center for the Shikoku Henro and Pilgrimage of theWorld, Ehime University
Supported by:Tokushima Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture
Board of Education, Ehime Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture
Board of Education, Kagawa Prefecture, and Kagawa
Prefecture Board of Education■ Outline
On Saturday, January 25, 2020, the Shikoku Henro World
Heritage Inscription Council held an international symposium
titled “To Make the Shikoku Henro a World Heritage Site” at
Ehime University Nanka Memorial Hall, Matsuyama City,
Ehime Prefecture. About 160 people participated in the event.
Prior to the symposium, a partnership agreement was
signed by the council’s Committee for Evidence of Outstanding
Universal Value and the Research Center for the Shikoku Henro and Pilgrimage of the World, Ehime
University. The partnership agreement is expected to advance collaboration in research on the Shikokuhenro.
At the symposium, the Chairman of the Research Group of Evidence of Outstanding Universal Value
presented an interim report on studies of the outstanding universal value of the Shikoku henro. Moreover,based on recent trends of the World Heritage
program and comparison with otherpilgrimage customs in Asia, lively discussions
were held about features of the Shikoku henroand its outstanding universal value, evidence
for which is required for its inscription. The
discussion involved specialists in the World
Heritage program. The symposium proved tobe effective in promoting concerted efforts ofall Shikoku residents to work for theinscription of the Shikoku henro byincorporating perspectives outside Japan.

■

Greetings by Related Parties
In his greeting, Chairman Hayato Saeki of the council discussed that in the context
of the ongoing trends of social digitalization, it was particularly meaningful to passon the Shikoku henro, the spiritual culture treasured and inherited by the public inthe region, to future generations. He expressed his hope that the partnershipagreement with Ehime University would promote collaborations and drive thecampaign toward inscription on the World Heritage List.
Following his greeting, Mr. Hiraku Hachiya, Deputy Governor of Ehime
Prefecture, which hosted the symposium, read a message on behalf of Governor
Tokihiro Nakamura. He said that given a decrease in the number of candidate
properties on Japan’s Tentative List, it was expected that the list would be revised.
Since public support is essential in promoting the registration of the property on theChairman Hayato Saeki ofTentative List, he requested the audience of the symposium for their cooperation inthe Shikoku Henro World
Heritage Inscription Council
promoting the attractive features of the henro culture in order to realize the(Chairman of the Shikoku
registration on the Tentative List and ultimately on the World Heritage List.
Economic Federation)
President Yuichi Ohashi of Ehime University expressed his hope that theuniversity’s three community-oriented research centers in humanities, including the Research Center for theShikoku Henro and Pilgrimage of the World, opened in April 2019, would contribute to the revitalization ofthe region by reevaluating regional culture and sharing research outcomes. He concluded that thepartnerships between the council and Ehime University would contribute to resolving problems inachieving registration as a World Heritage site.
■ Keynote Report: What Is the Outstanding Universal Value of the Shikoku Henro?
Director Akihiro Kinda of the Kyoto Institute, Library and Archives, Kyoto Prefectural University, who
serves as the Chairman of the council’s Research Group ofEvidence of Outstanding Universal Value, reported on thehistory and profile of the Shikoku henro, along with thestudy process of the research group.
Concerning the origin of the Shikoku henro, hedescribed as follows: “In ancient times, four provinces inShikoku were part of the Nankaido (lit. southern coast)region, which was linked with the capital by a nationalhighway. Although the route of the highway changed overtime, it is believed that in the 8th century, a circular routerunning around Shikoku was built and that the Shikoku
Director Akihiro Kinda of the Kyoto Institute, Library andhenro initially used that route.” He then showedArchives, Kyoto Prefectural Universityphotographs of various structures that remain in various parts ofShikoku, including temple precincts with a hondō (building with a statue of the main deity) and Daishidō(building with a statue of Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi),unpaved and stone-paved pilgrimage roads, roadside
distance markers, signposts, and tea houses where o-settai (offering support) was practiced.
Next, he explained the present activities of the research group as follows: “We intend to divide thehistory of the Shikoku henro into the following four stages: [1] the period when Buddhist monks engaged
in ascetic training in rural areas on Shikoku Island (ancient times to medieval ages), [2] the period whenascetic training spread widely (end of medieval ages to the beginning of early modern period), [3] theperiod when the present pilgrimage system comprised of the eighty-eight temples and their serial numbers
was established and Daishidō, signposts, and other structures were constructed to support pilgrims (earlymodern period to modern period), and [4] the period when diverse transport means became available andthe purpose of pilgrimage became diversified (after the end of World War II). Of the four stages, theShikoku henro as it is now was established in stage [3]. In particular, the Shikoku Henro Michi-shirube, aguidebook for pilgrimage in Shikoku, written by Shinnen in 1687 in Osaka, clarifies the serial number ofthe eighty-eight temples and portrays pilgrimage styles. In this way, the guidebook significantly contributed
to the establishment and spread of the Shikoku henro.”“It was in the latter half of the 17th century when the pilgrimage routes linking eighty-eight temples
were established. In the 18th century, Daishidō were erected on the temple grounds, and along the routes,
various structures were built, including signposts, distance markers, and rest stations. Moreover, thepractice of o-settai became widespread. Local people living close to the routes offered free accommodationand meals to pilgrims based on faith in Kōbō Daishi. While this practice supported pilgrims, local people
believed that helping pilgrims would also save the donors’ souls. In this way, the practice was establishedbased on mutual understanding among pilgrims and local people.” After describing these features, Director

Kinda suggested that the establishment of these structures and the practice of o-settai could be introduced
as unique characteristics of the property to be nominated.
Finally, concerning the outstanding universal value of the Shikoku henro, he introduced the following
tentative statement by the research group: “The Shikoku henro, which is closely linked to Shikoku, where it
has been sustained by faith in salvation of both pilgrims and local residents, bears a testimony to a rare
form of faith in the world, a faith that is characterized by salvation of diverse individuals and which has
been fostered by local communities and retained to the present day as a living tradition.” He added thatremaining problems to solve include how to explain differences from other pilgrimage cultures inside andoutside Japan.

■ Keynote Lecture: Trends of World Cultural Heritage Program and Asian Pilgrimage
A keynote lecture was offered by Dr. Gamini
Wijesuriya, a Special Adviser to the Director General ofICCROM from Sri Lanka. Based on his experience inthe World Heritage program, he discussed recent viewsof World Heritage, practices of pilgrimage in the world,
particularly in Asia, and challenges for the Shikoku
henro project.
He said: “Generally speaking, pilgrimage is ajourney for a religious purpose to a specific destinationthat is regarded as sacred. Components of pilgrimage
include pilgrims, temples and other religious facilities
and their remains, destinations, pilgrimage routes, andintangible elements such as religious ceremonies andrituals. Among the present World Cultural Heritage sites,
Former Project Manager Gamini Wijesuriya of, ICCROM
seventy-two sites use either the term “pilgrimage” or“pilgrim” in their descriptions. Of those, six heritage
sites use “road” or “pilgrimage routes” in their titles.”To add a property on the World Heritage List, he said: “It is essential to have an excellent project teamfor the preparation and sufficient funds and time. In addition, involvement of local communities has
become considered to be important in recent years. A project team must also study annual reports ofICOMOS and its revised operational guidelines to prepare application forms in compliance with them.”
Concerning the protection and management of a property, the Heritage Impact Assessment has become
necessary in broader areas, including areas outside the buffer zone, to analyze possible effects ofdevelopment on the outstanding universal value of World Heritage properties. Accordingly, he stressed theimportance of building a management system from a broad perspective, including benefits for localcommunities.
Since testimony of the outstanding universal value, which is required for inscription, should berecognized outside the national borders, he stressed the importance of describing what changes thepilgrimage caused, how it developed on a global basis, and what tangible or intangible assets attest to its
universal value. As examples of Asian heritage sites related to pilgrimage, he introduced Mt. Kailash inTibet and Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka, showing their tangible evidence, such as a rock with the sacredfootprint of Buddha, various monuments along the routes, and a mural painting of a temple in Thailand
depicting the pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak.
Finally, evaluating the Shikoku henro highly as one of the most splendid pilgrimage routes in theworld, which changed the culture of Shikoku, he emphasized the importance of creating a message and anarrative to share with people around the world. As an outstanding feature of the property, he pointed out
the fact that pilgrims traveled along the route repeatedly, driven by various objectives of their own while
being supported by local communities that believed helping pilgrims would benefit themselves. He
suggested that rather than placing excessive emphasis on the eighty-eight sacred sites, the focus should beon changes that the practice of pilgrimage caused to the sacred sites, which had existed long before. Headvised that the related parties should stress the value of tangible and intangible assets that were created by
the pilgrimage, such as new temples, new way of land use, communities, buildings and other structures, andfestivals. In conclusion, he said, “Since there are many tasks to fulfill, it is important to seek suggestions
from external parties.”■Panel Discussion: The Value of the Shikoku Henro and Challenges in Its Inscription on theWorld Heritage List
Based on the report and the lecture,panelists held lively discussions onthe value of the Shikoku henro andchallenges in adding it on theWorld Heritage List.
Director Hikaru Ebesu ofEhime University Research Center
pointed out the following
characteristics of the Shikoku
henro: “The geography of theisland, far from the capital, created
From left: Panelists Gamini Wijesuriya, Chihei Suzuki, and Hikaru Ebesu (Titles omitted)
a circular pilgrimage route that has
no final destinations, which characterizes the Shikoku henro. The leading players of the pilgrimage wereand are common people. All temples along the route have Daishidō, in addition to hondō. And thepilgrimage is supported by local communities in Shikoku in the form of o-settai, which is supported by thebelief in the salvation of both pilgrims and residents who help them.” He said: “In addition to faith in Kōbō
Daishi and o-settai, another element should be added to the message of the property. For example, I believe
it very interesting to consider that faith in Kōbō Daishi and the Shikoku henro contributed to theestablishment of common people’s culture during the Edo period, when the Shikoku henro becamepopular.”Mr. Chihei Suzuki, a Senior Cultural Properties Specialist of the Agency for Cultural Affairs,
described the recent trend in which increasing numbers of properties related to religious faith have been
added to the heritage list. Concerning characteristics of the Shikoku henro, he pointed out that the practiceof the pilgrimage has no specific relation to any founder of a religion, scriptures, or missionaries. He said,“In other words, pilgrims were driven by faith but not by a specific religion, and this fact is worth noting, inaddition to other features of the property, such as being a circular route without a destination and theinvolvement of people of various social classes.” Concerning the o-settai, he said, “It is worthy to note theinfluence of pilgrims, who were supported, on local communities, as well as interaction between pilgrims
and local residents.” He also expressed his wish that local people in Shikoku would recognize the special
value of roads, signposts, and temples in their neighborhood and treasure them.
Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, who offered the keynote lecture, stressed the importance of reviewing andevaluating the value of the property from the perspective of the common values of the world and in linewith the selection criteria. He also suggested as follows: “Since targets of the World Heritage program arereal estate, it is necessary to carefully detect tangible evidence that shows what was created or what wasadded to existing assets by the pilgrimage, which began by touring existing temples. I have the impressionthat the Shikoku henro created a new culture. I do believe that you can find elements that show connection
to what remains intact today.”As the facilitator, Professor Nobuko Inaba of the University of Tsukuba said as follows: “As a starting
point, we all have our own view regarding the value of the Shikoku henro. To add the property on theWorld Heritage List, however, we must find value that can be recognized worldwide. I believe there arethree essential elements necessary for inscription of the property: value
recognized worldwide, tangible evidence that represent the value, such as
Daishidō, and the enthusiasm of local people to maintain the value andprotect the tangible evidence, including temples, pilgrimage routes, reststations, and roadside signposts.” She then stated that further researchshould be conducted to determine whether or not the term “junrei”(pilgrimage) is appropriate and how o-settai should be explained. She
concluded that to nominate the Shikoku henro for the World Heritage List,
related parties should first identify the henro, a probably non-religious
practice that emerged from the culture of common people on an island
called Shikoku in the Edo period. She asked the audience to join thesearch for the value of the Shikoku henro and its culture.
Facilitator: Ms. Nobuko Inaba