Pay homage at Dewa Sanzan Shrines – Let the "mystical spiritual power" of yamabushi help fulfill your wishes

▲ Pay homage at Dewa Sanzan Shrine and let the yamabushi fulfill your wishes. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

Reporter Lin Yanchen / Reported from Yamagata

Shinto is a uniquely Japanese belief system, and many Taiwanese visitors also experience paying respects at Japanese shrines. However, at Dewa Sanzan Shrine on Mount Haguro in Yamagata Prefecture, beyond worship, you can make a wish and receive a blessing from a "yamabushi" to increase the likelihood of it coming true.

Dewa Sanzan Shrine refers collectively to three mountains in Yamagata Prefecture: Mount Yudono, Mount Haguro, and Mount Gassan — that is, the faith of regarding these mountains as sacred deities, similar to China’s mountain worship. The founder of Dewa Sanzan Shrine was Prince Hachiko. In 592 AD, after his father, Emperor Sushun, was assassinated by the minister Soga no Umako, Prince Hachiko fled and drifted at sea before being rescued by eight young women on the shore in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. Later, guided by a three-legged crow, he arrived at Mount Haguro and established Dewa Sanzan Shrine.

▲ Before the worship ceremony, the yamabushi plays a conch shell from his hand. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

Practitioners at Dewa Sanzan Shrine are called "yamabushi." They are characterized by wearing a "tengai" (a small hat) on their heads. Yamabushi absorb the spiritual energy of the mountains through mountain trekking and ascetic practices. As a result, even during heavy snowfall, they wear very thin clothing. Before the worship ceremony, the yamabushi plays the conch shell to notify the deities in the mountains.

▲ Before making a wish at the Mirror Pond, the yamabushi first shakes a bell and chants a spell. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

The pond located in front of the main hall is called "Mirror Pond," named after the hundreds of mirrors unearthed here, dating from the Heian period to the Edo period. The pond itself is regarded as a divine entity. Before making a wish, the yamabushi leads everyone in worshiping the Mirror Pond. The yamabushi shakes the bell and chants, while others put their hands together in prayer.

▲ Write your wish on a piece of paper, place a mirror on top to press it down, and then submerge it in the water. The paper provided by the shrine is water-soluble. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

Once the yamabushi finishes chanting, everyone can write their wishes on the paper, then place a round metal disc symbolizing a mirror on top. As the paper gradually sinks into the water, you can wait in hope for your wish to come true.

▲ Make a reservation in advance to receive the wish paper, mirror, souvenir paperweight, and a booklet for collecting commemorative stamps. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

▲ After visiting Dewa Sanzan Shrine, the clergy will commemorate the experience with calligraphy and a stamp as proof. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)

To experience making a wish at Mirror Pond, make a reservation on the official website to receive the wish paper and a small mirror. Additionally, the shrine offers food and accommodation services. If you wish to dine or stay overnight, you must also make an online reservation in advance. However, please note that the meals provided by the shrine are all "shojin ryori" (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and the chef explained that the meals are made with wild mountain vegetables from Dewa Sanzan. Yamabushi believe that consuming these mountain vegetables allows one to gain spiritual power from the deities of the mountains.

% The vegetarian meals provided by the shrine are very light, so those who prefer richer flavors should inform the staff in advance. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yanchen)