Report on the Symposium in FY 2016
Many Minds Many Hearts One Shikoku“To Make the Shikoku Henro a World Heritage Site”
International Symposium
Date and Time:
Venue:
Program:

Organizers:

Saturday, March 18, 2017. 1:00~4:40 p.m.
Hotel Clement Tokushima(61, Terashima Honcho Nishi 1 chome, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture)■ Report by the Agency for Cultural Affairs:
Recent Trends of the World Cultural Heritage Program
Ichita Shimoda (Senior Cultural Properties Specialist, Office for World Cultural
Heritage, Monument and Sites Division, Cultural Properties Department, Agency forCultural Affairs)■ Commemorative Lectures:(1) Based on the Experience of Inscribing the Silk Roads on the World Heritage List
Guo Zhan (former Vice President of the International Council on Monumentsand Sites [ICOMOS])(2) The Shikoku Henro and the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
Masahiko Hayashi (Professor Emeritus, Meiji University)■ Panel Discussion: To Inscribe the Shikoku Henro on the World Heritage List
Facilitator:
Shinichi Shimizu (Professor, Tokushima Bunri University)
Panelists:
Guo Zhan (former Vice President of ICOMOS)
Makoto Motonaka (Counsellor, Cabinet Secretariat)
Masahiko Hayashi (Professor Emeritus, Meiji University)
Masaaki Oishi (Executive Director, Vice President, Naruto
University of Education)
Organized by:
The Shikoku Henro World Heritage Inscription Council
Council to Promote Partnership between the Shikoku Henro andKumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
Cooperation given by: NPO Network for Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage and Hospitality■ Outline
On Saturday, March 18, 2017, the Shikoku
Henro World Heritage Inscription Council
held an international symposium titled “To
Make the Shikoku Henro a World HeritageSite” at Clement Hall, Hotel Clement
Tokushima, with cooperation given by theCouncil to Promote Partnership between theShikoku Henro and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
Routes. About 200 people participated in theevent.
At the symposium, a report waspresented regarding initiatives taken by
Shikoku over the past decade to nominate the property for Japan’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites,
along with the present situation of related activities. In addition, two commemorative lectures were givenon the Silk Roads and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes (Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii
Mountain Range), which were registered as a World Heritage site 10 years before. By comparing theseproperties, both of which are related to roads, a panel discussion was held, involving a specialist fromoverseas, regarding features of the Shikoku henro, its tangible and intangible component parts, and various
other issues.

■Greetings by Related Parties
In his greeting, Chairman Akira Chiba of the council said: “Despite radical changes
in the environment of the Shikoku henro from the Edo Period (1603-1868) and thediversification of pilgrimage styles, even today 150,000 people annually tour along
the pilgrimage routes in Shikoku, a fact that attests to the eternal value of theShikoku henro. It is the responsibility of us, residents in Shikoku, to preserve thisvaluable asset, promote global recognition of the property, and pass it on to future
generations.”
In a video message, Governor Kamon Iizumi ofTokushima Prefecture announced that he furnished a written
proposal to nominate the property for Japan’s Tentative List ofChairman Akira Chiba of theWorld Heritage Sites to the Director of the Agency for Cultural
Shikoku Henro World
Heritage Inscription Council
Affairs on August 8, 2016. He then discussed the importance(Chairman of the Shikoku
of fulfilling the following two tasks: presenting testimonies ofEconomic Federation)
the outstanding universal value and reinforcing protection
measures of the property. He expressed his hope that the symposium would help
Vice Chairman Kamon
advance the process toward the inscription of the property on Japan’s Tentative List
Iizumi of the Shikoku Henroand promote the culture of the Shikoku henro to the world.
World Heritage Inscription
Council (Governor ofTokushima Prefecture)■ Report: Recent Trends of the World Cultural Heritage Program
Mr. Ichita Shimoda, a Senior Cultural Properties Specialist of theAgency for Cultural Affairs, reported on recent trends of the World
Heritage program as follows:“This year, forty-five years after the adoption of the World
Heritage Convention, the number of listed properties reached morethan 1,000, but many heritage sites are not sufficiently protected. In
this context, state parties are requested to voluntarily restrict
nominating activities while the World Heritage Committee is limiting
the number of properties to be examined.”
In the case of the Shikoku henro, he suggested that concerning its
authenticity, which should be testified to in order to add the property
Mr. Ichita Shimoda (Senior Cultural Properties
Specialist, Office for World Cultural Heritage, theon the World Heritage List, related parties should consider whether toAgency for Cultural Affairs)
select the specific period of the property when its value was thehighest (when pilgrimage was most popular) or to include the earlier periods and to nominate the whole ofthe history of the property. Regarding the integrity, he said, “Even though it would be best to include all
eighty-eight temples and the whole of the pilgrimage routes in the property to be nominated, related parties
should review what percentage of the property could be theoretically explained to bear integrity.” He alsomentioned, “Since UNESCO evaluates involvement of local communities, seeking understanding of andinvolving community members in the campaign would be essential particularly in the Shikoku henro
project, which is characterized by the living tradition of local culture and practice of o-settai (offeringsupport).”When considering what properties should be added on Japan’s Tentative List, he said: “It is necessaryto prepare a grand design that represents Japanese culture. From a historical viewpoint, for example, mostcandidate properties on the Tentative List are of the early modern period. It is therefore necessary to selectproperties that do not overlap other candidates from diverse perspectives, including chronologicaltimeline.” He concluded: “It takes a long time before inscribing a property on the World Heritage List, andeven after the registration of the property, there would be various challenges, as well as merits. Based on
this recognition, I hope that you will consider the registration from a long-term view.”■Commemorative Lectures: Based on the Experience ofInscribing Silk Roads on the World Heritage List
Mr. Guo Zhan, former Vice President of ICOMOS, gave a lecture on
the challenges involved in the registration of the Shikoku henro basedon his own experience in inscribing the Silk Roads on the World
Mr. Guo Zhan (former Vice President of ICOMOS)
Heritage List.
He suggested as follows: “Since the concept of the ‘road of culture’has gained international support, increasing numbers of countries jointly
furnish applications to UNESCO. In the Silk Roads project, China,
Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic jointly worked. Taking the serial
Mr. Guo Zhan, former Vice President of ICOMOS
nomination approach by linking multiple sites, the three countries
advocated that the value of the Silk Roads lay in the unification ofvarious functions of the roads to promote trades of silk and other products, along with cultural interactions.
To add a property on the World Heritage List, it is necessary to conduct comparative studies of similar
properties to identify the specific or unique testimony of the nominated property in human history.” In thiscontext, he suggested that the Shikoku project should also take the serial nomination approach, saying,“Please notice that 1 plus 1 becomes greater than 2 in the case of serial nomination.”
He further suggested that the Shikoku henro could exhibit its unique testimony different from that of
the Silk Roads and other trade routes since it includes paths for ascetic religious training. Concerning atheme that is necessary to present, he said, “By combining various elements, including the local culture ofo-settai, in addition to the temples and pilgrimage routes, the related parties could present a theme ofprofound meaning.” “Once the theme is established,” he added, “various aspects of the Shikoku henro
would become clearly visible, such as roads and other traffic infrastructure and the influence of pilgrimage
on local communities, development of roadside villages, and buildings.” In conclusion, he said, “Althoughinscription on the World Heritage List tends to vitalize tourism, the primary purpose of the inscription
should be passing on the property to future generations.” In the end, he promised to support Shikoku with
its efforts to register the property as a World Heritage site.
The Shikoku Henro and the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
Based on the research outcomes of the Kumano Kodo, Professor
Emeritus Masahiko Hayashi of Meiji University lectured on common
points and differences between the Shikoku henro and the Kumano
Kodo as follows:“After the inscription of the Kumano Kodo as a World Heritage site
under the title ‘Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain
Range,’ Meiji University organized academic meetings and forums onKumano together with related governments to promote the property at
various locations, particularly Tokyo, where residents have keen interestin the property. Based on this experience, I recognized the importanceProfessor Emeritus Masahiko Hayashi of Meiji
Universityof involving people in various regions in addition to residents of aproperty’s site.
“Seigantoji Temple in Kumano, the first destination on the pilgrimage routes in Saigoku (WesternJapan), appears in books written in the Muromachi period (1336–1573), such as Jimon Koso-ki, a Buddhist
document that precisely describes pilgrimage to Kumano and Saigoku. During the Edo period (1603–1868),
the pilgrimage to Kumano became popular, driven by the development of highways, improvement of ahorseshoe technology, and spread of a bill dealing system. While the term ‘henro’ is used to refer topilgrimage roads in Shikoku, the Kumano Kodo is called ‘hechi,’ the similarity in these two terms implying
some relationship between the two regions. In fact, there were cases where pilgrims went to Shikoku after
completing pilgrimage in Kumano and Saigoku. In several documents, including the Shikoku Henro Nikki(Shikoku pilgrimage diary) by a Buddhist priest Chozen, shrines in Kumano are mentioned in the passages
concerning temples in Shikoku, including Shozanji Temple and Ishiteji Temple. These remarks imply thatmonks who had ascetic training in mountains in Kumano went to Shikoku. Concerning the origin of theShikoku henro, there are several stories, including those associated with monks in Kumano, in addition to
those of Emon Saburo and Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi). Whether it is true or not, the stories associated withmonks in Kumano indicate significant influence of Kumano on the Shikoku henro.”
Finally, he introduced the practice of etoki (a Buddhist practice of using a painted hand scroll toexplain Buddhist teachings) in the legend of Emon Saburo in Matsuyama City (Ehime Prefecture,Shikoku). Describing that the pilgrimage to Kumano was promoted by nuns from Kumano who used etoki
to encourage people to go to Kumano, he said that pilgrimage in Kumano was promoted by religiousorganizations, particularly the three shrines in Kumano. On this point, he said, “There is a great difference
between pilgrimage in Kumano and Shikoku, since the former was promoted by nuns in Kumano who
traveled nationwide to encourage pilgrimage while the latter has been supported and promoted by local
communities and residents.”

■ Panel Discussion: To Inscribe the Shikoku Henro on the World Heritage List
After the lectures, reports
were presented by Mr.
Makoto Motonaka and Mr.
Masaaki Oishi, which werefollowed by lively
discussions.
Mr. Makoto Motonaka,a Counsellor of the Cabinet
Secretariat, said: “TheShikoku henro is
From left: Panelists, Guo Zhan, Masahiko Hayashi, Makoto Motonaka, and Masaaki Oishi (Titles omitted)
characterized by faith anddevotion of common people
in and after the early modern period, as is evidenced in the practice of o-settai. This is a very important
point, but it requires creative explanation.” He also suggested that a deciding factor for the inscription
would be presenting evidence that meets Selection Criterion iii (to bear a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living, or which has disappeared). At the sametime, he suggested: “It is necessary to provide a solid explanation about the relationship between theShikoku henro and Kōbō Daishi, distinguishing it from his relationship with Koyasan and other related
places. Moreover, it would be necessary to study the property in consideration of the roles played by thetemples and pilgrimage routes in developing Japanese people’s view of landscapes.” He added, “Ratherthan making the inscription on the World Heritage List the sole purpose of the project, related parties
should place importance on its process. For example, they can seek to develop specialists throughcollaboration in the process.” Finally, he said, “Please engage in the project based on the recognition thatefforts toward the inscription would require considerable time, manpower, and cost.”
Mr. Masaaki Oishi, Vice President of Naruto University of Education, introduced the history of theShikoku henro as follows: “In early days, Buddhist monks toured the rural areas in Shikoku where Kūkai(Kōbō Daishi) engaged in ascetic training. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the routes taken by thesemonks developed into the Shikoku henro, pilgrimage routes of common lay people, linking eighty-eighttemples. Local people’s support of pilgrims was then established as the practice of o-settai. Temples along
the routes built Daishidō (a building with a statue of Kōbō Daishi). Along the roads connecting the temples,
signposts were erected, as well as tombs for deceased pilgrims. In this way, landscapes of the Shikoku
henro as they are today were created during the Edo period. Documents in the period indicate the presenceof pilgrims who traveled in Shikoku in their last years and who died and were buried in roadside tombs. As
part of the o-settai, local people erected their tombs. At the temples along the routes, pilgrims obtained
amulets and collected red ink stamps in their stamp books. These items probably functioned as tools forpilgrims to confirm their faith.” In conclusion, he said, “An outstanding feature of the Shikoku henro lies in
its double-layer structure, comprising pilgrimage of common lay people on the basis of ascetic training bymonks.”
Mr. Masahiko Hayashi pointed out the following two characteristics of the Shikoku henro: first, it wasa circular route, and second, the majority of pilgrims were common people, independent from religiousorganizations. In terms of the similarities of the Shikoku henro and Kumano pilgrimage routes, hesuggested as follows: “Both had free hostels, some people went on pilgrimage more than once, and it wasbelieved that the more frequently one went on pilgrimage, the greater merit one gained.” To study thehistory and characteristics of the Shikoku henro, he advocated that an academic society dedicated toresearch of the Shikoku henro should be formed in Shikoku since studies of the property from a long-termview would help the efforts to add the property on the World Heritage List.
Mr. Guo Zhan valued the Shikoku henro for its uniqueness. He said, “The property is unparalleled byany in the world in that it comprises of a circular route without a destination, has a long history, and wasused for ascetic training.” To exhibit these characteristics, he suggested that the term “henro” should beincluded in the title of the property. To demonstrate the property’s authenticity, he suggested that the year
when a temple was erected should be written accurately together with the years of their repairs andrenovations. He encouraged related parties with the following message: “Although seeking the inscription
on the World Heritage List will entail a tremendous effort and take a long time, the process will provide thelocal people with a good opportunity to reevaluate their hometowns. Through the campaign they canproudly promote attractive features of their hometowns to the world.”
Finally, as the facilitator, Professor Shinichi Shimizu of Tokushima Bunri
University said that the main features of the Shikoku henro are intangible elements,
such as the practice of pilgrimage and o-settai, rather than magnificent structures. He
said: “As it was suggested by Mr. Motonaka, intangible assets are important but
difficult to protect by law. Accordingly, we should establish a sort of rule to protect
diverse styles of pilgrimage. Regarding the period of the property to be nominated, itwould be best to specify the period when the majority of pilgrims toured the routeson foot and when traces of ascetic training still remained.” In conclusion, he asked
people in the Shikoku region for their support of the campaign, saying, “It isFacilitator, Mr. Shinichi
important to go back to the origin and determine which assets we should protect andShimizu
pass on to future generations.”