En no Ozunu and Ancient Mystical Mountain Tradition
Legendary Founder of Shugendo Asceticism
Japan, with its limited landmass surrounded by steep mountain ranges, has long seen vibrant practices of mountain worship. However, surprisingly, the ancient Jomon and Yayoi people did not engage in mountain worship; this movement appeared much later in Japanese history. Central to this shift was En no Ozunu (役小角), also known as En no Gyoja (役行者).
En no …