The Chichibu Pilgrimage
Edo period, since 1690
The Chichibu Pilgrimage is one of the oldest in Japan, having been established in the 13th century towards the end of the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), which would explain the very strong influence of Zen Buddhism, most of the temples belonging to the Soto and Rinzai schools.
Originally it consisted of 33 stations, corresponding to the 33 different events of Kannon, the addition of a 34th stage dating from 1536.
the pilgrims take away the "nôkyô-chô", a small notebook where they note the name of the temple they have just passed, its number and the specifics of the Kannon of the place, the temple staff affixes the stamp of the site in red ink on the page of the notebook.
