This is another part of the pilgrims guide in Japan.

It deals with the pilgrimages and the stamp books and sacred picture
books (mi-e)

.
Shuin@Žιˆσ@@Stamps from a Temple or Shrine

Pilgrims Book for Stamps from Each Temple <> shuin-choo <> Žιˆσ'Ÿ
Also called nookyoo-choo"[Œo' 
Some temples sell a hanging scroll, nookyoo-jiku"[ŒoŽ², especially
for the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the 33 Kannon
Temples.


During the Edo Period, pilgrimages were one of the only chances for
common folk to leave the hometown and enjoy a trip around Japan. To
make sure they visited all the temples on the way, they got a
Pilgrims Stamp Book at the first temple and a stamp at each temple on
the road.
Common pilgrim tours are the 33 Kannon Temples in Kanto Area
(Bandoo), Western-Japan (Saikoku) and 34 in Chichibu, making it 100
alltogether.

Nowadays many areas have established their own 33 Kannon Temples
Pilgrimage as a attraction for the religious tourist. Pilgrimages to
36 temples of Fudoo Myoo-oo, 49 temples of the Buddha of Healing,
Yakushi and many others as well as the ubiquitous 88 temples tours in
memory of the great Shikoku pilgrimage.

Here is a very extensive site with many examples from Shuu Ichiroo san
Όˆκ˜Yi‚΅‚ε‚€‚’‚Ώ‚λ‚€j.

http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/img/index.jpg

Kannon Pilgrimages
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/kannon-pilgrim.shtml

33 Kannon Temples in Kamakura
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/kannon-pilgrim-kamakura.shtml

Another famous pilgrimages comprises the 88 Temples in Shikoku Island
dedicated to Kooboo Daishi.
http://www.mandala.co.jp/echoes/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Darumasan-Japan/message/352


But now I want to talk about the Pilgrims Stamp Book.

Different types of Stamp Books.


http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/img/index3.jpg

This one is very big book. It is divided between temples and shrines
and has one page for each. This pilgrim visited most of the temples
and shrines related to the mountain cult of Shugendoo during the
Meiji Period, and some of these buildings do not exist nowadays. And
the ones that we can still visit today now present a different stamp
and signature.
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http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/img/index2.jpg

This one is from the Edo Period. It is simple Japanese paper stitched
together, possibly made by a monk or believer from the Nichiren Sect
of Buddhism. In the middle of each page you can see the impressive
writing of the prayer to the Lotus Sutra, Namu Myoohoo Renge Kyoo.
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http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/img/index1.jpg

Here are three modern ones from the Showa Period. They represent
pilgrimages in Western Japan. They are the fore-fathers of the book
still used today. The design and patterns are still used today.

Stamps from Ise Shrine
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/ise.php

The 88 Temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/shikoku88.php

Pictures of the statues of each temple, the example is Temple Nr. 1.

http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/shikoku88_miei.php
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/shikoku88_miei/01miei.gif

All 88 pictures on one page. Click on each name below to go to the
temple and see more pictures.
http://hirotaku.web.infoseek.co.jp/temple/shikoku/stamps/shikstmp_.sht
ml

Again, the sacred pictures, mi-ei Œδ‰e
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/htmlmie/mrj34/frmmrj34.htm


The 33 Kannon Temples of the Pilgrimage in Western Japan
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/saikoku33.php

Pictures of the Kannon Statues you get at each temple too. Example is
Temple Nr. 1.

http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/saikoku33_miei.php
http://www.ohagi.com/jisha/syuin/saikoku33_miei.htm
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/saikoku33_miei/01miei.gif

Sacred Pictures from Western Japan, 88 Temples
http://www.ohagi.com/jisha/syuin/shikoku88_miei.htm

Most of the above is found here.
http://www.ohagi.com/syuin/index.php

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Here is a short tour of the stamps of the most famous pilgrimages.

All stamps from the 33 Kannon Temples of Western Japan (saikoku)
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/html/frame01.htm

All stamps from the 33 Kannon Temples around Tokyo (bandoo)
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/html/frame01.htm

All stamps from the 34 Kannon Temples of Chichibu.
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/html/frame09.htm

That makes the first 100 temples of the traditional Kannon pilgrimage.

Now the pilgrim moves on to the 88 temples of Shikoku.
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/html/frame09.htm

And the 20 extra ones in honor of Kooboo Daishi in Western Japan.
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~fkm-ito/html/frame25.htm

Now the most important pilgrimages are coverd.

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Here is another great collection of stamps, click on any of the
buttons on the right column.

http://www.kt70.com/~r-s/focus/shuin/book.jpg
http://www.kt70.com/~r-s/focus/shuin/shuin-index.html

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Some types of stamps from temples in Kamakura.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/syuin.html

This is the most commen type. Various red stamps and the calligraphy
written in many lines, with the name of the temple and the date
included.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/img/syuin3.gif

This one has even more elaborate calligraphy.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/img/syuin1.gif

The use of the fluent female written calligraphy of ladies is very
seldom.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/img/syuin4.gif


Some temples give only a stamp. So when the head priest is away (the
one who writes Chinese characters best :o) ) his wife can just put
the stamps in place.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/img/syuin8.gif

And in this one the names in black are also stamped in.
http://www.satonao.com/column/variety/img/syuin5.gif

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Gabi san