For the Chichibu pilgrimage, Fudasho #17 (temple 17) was the temple chosen by our group to analyze and study. We were assigned several physical items taken from temple 17 and three pictures taken of various landmarks of the temple for the purpose of understanding their significance; what do these items mean? How do they relate to this temple or this pilgrimage? What can one infer from their visual cues and motifs?

The items from temple 17 that were given to us was an, Omamori, a fan from an animae (Japanese animation) that takes place at the temple, a tiny plaque from the animae, and an Osugata.

Omamori are yearly protective amulets that are imbued with good luck, protective power(s), or blessings. Each omamori represents a different kind of protection and are often carried by pilgrims whilst embarking on pilgrimages to various temples/routes.  Omamori were originally made from paper or wood, but modern omamori are small items usually kept inside a brocade bag and contain a prayer. The omamori that we were given is encased in transparent plastic. Although it’s impossible to remove the contents of the omamori from the sealed plastic container without breaking it, one can clearly see what’s inside, and therefore decipher what its contents entails.  The front of the Omamori, directly in the middle displays a thin rectangular golden slip of paper with five Japanese characters, which translates to, “A Charm of the Heart Sutra.” This indicates that the prayer written on the folded paper contains a copy of the Heart Sutra inside. One can infer that a pilgrim carrying this Omamori would recite the

Heart Sutra while praying at any arrived Buddhist temple, specifically temple 17. One can see said prayer when the omamori is turned upside down or on its side. A piece of paper with black ink visible on it that has been folded many times can be seen as the core of the omamori. We can infer that this paper has a the Heart Sutra written on it, most likely in calligraphy. The folded paper
is sandwiched on both sides of two pieces of red cloth with a golden lotus flower designs stitched on. It’s unclear whether or not the cloth is covering thin wooden blocks, but the surface of the cloth through the plastic is remarkably hard and stiff; one can conclude that the cloth may be covering wood, covering the folded paper. The golden locus design on the red cloth of the Omamori represents fortune. Lotus designs are very common for Buddhist imagery and patterns for the lotus have been a prominent symbol, for many sutras and Buddhism symbols. The lotus may be a symbol for rising above the realm of craving and suffering and thus achieving enlightenment, or a symbol for purifying the spirit. Regardless of the specific meaning why a lotus design was chosen for this omamori, its presence nonetheless emphasizes that this omarmori is to be used in pilgrimage, for the purpose of purifying one’s soul, improving one’s karma, and potentially achieving enlightenment.

This fan is from the Japanese Anime show called Anohana. This show is about a group of former friends that try to solve the mystery of why their dead childhood friend cannot go to heaven. This anime series is set along the Chichibu Pilgrimage route, especially at Fudasho #17. The back of the fan translates to "We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day." this same translation can be seen on the packaging of the tiny plaque. The plaque also says that it can only be found at Chichibu. This indicates that not only is the Chichibu route a place for pilgrims, but it is also a place that attracts anime fans of the show. The memorabilia that these two objects represents show that there is a strong following of the show in relation to Fudasho # 17 along the Chichibu route. Visitors to Fudasho #17 have increased ten times since the release of Anohana. Throughout the show there are many images that are along the Chichibu route. The Old Chichibu Bridge, the tunnel underneath, and the field of blooming flowers in Hitsujiyama park are all seen in the animation. The Objects themselves are quite interesting because they are both very useful for pilgrims. The fan is used along pilgrimage routes during the hot summer months to keep cool. The Anohana picture displayed on the face of the fan allows pilgrims to know the importance the show is to the person fanning themselves with the likeness of the “Super Peace Busters”; the name the characters in the show give their group. The plaque is also very useful because it serves almost as a temple stamp. The Plaque can be tied to a pack to be shown as a souvenir that you have been to the place where the Super Peace Busters had many of their adventures. 

The final item, the Osugata, is a drawing of the temple’s central deity. In addition to collecting hand-brushed stamps at each site along the circuit, pilgrims may also collect small paper slips depicting the central deity at each temple, known as Osugata or Mi-ei. These illustrated paper slips cost three hundred yen each and are collected together in a pilgrimage book called an Osugata-chō. In many ways, the mi-ei (sacred pictures) that is collected along the pilgrimage circuit is similar to the Christian tradition of "holy cards." The Osugata given to our group is blue with gold lines depicting the temple’s main deity which can be found in the temple. On the left of the image, in Japanese characters, it indicates the name of the temple (Fudasho #17). On the right, in Japanese, the characters explain where the temple is located (on the Okuchichibu Mountains). Underneath the deity image, there are Japanese characters in a golden box that indicates that the temple is the 17^th spot to visit in Chichibu.

Apart from the Temple 17 items presented to our group, we also analyzed three pictures taken of various locations around the temple. The first picture was of Jizo with Senjafuda. The picture shows a stone Jizo statue, wearing a red bib and hat. Parents put these garments there to either thank him for saving a child from illness or to ask him to protect a child in the after-life. In the background there are several senjafuda. These are stickers or scraps of paper that bear the names of worshippers, and they are posted around the temple. The second picture shows a votive tablet known as an ema. These small wooden plaques were traditionally used by Shinto worshippers who would write their prayers and wishes on the plaque before leaving it hanging at a temple. This particular ema features the character Menma from the anime Anohana. The third and final picture displays a Kasuga-doro. This is a pedestal lantern known as a Kasuga-doro. Named after Kasuga-taisha, it is a very common at both temples and shrines. The umbrella is small and has either six or eight sides with warabite at the corners. The fire box is either hexagonal or square with carvings representing deer, the sun or the moon. Tall and thin, it is often found near the second tori gate of a shrine.

These items and pictures have given our group a substantial outlook on Fudasho #17, as well as the Chichibu route as a whole. 

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