

Nageire-do
Nageire-do, known as the inner sanctuary of Sanbutsuji Temple on Mt. Mitoku, is a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture located in Misasa-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture, and is designated as a national treasure. This building has played an important role as one of the three major sacred sites of Shugendo in Japan. The building was built on a precipitous cliff, and how it was constructed remains a mystery to this day. The name “Nageiri” comes from the fact that the Buddhist temple appears to have been literally “thrown” into the cliffside. The legendary method of construction has been passed down from generation to generation, with some people claiming that Enno Ozunu, the founder of Shugendo, threw the building in with the power of the Dharma, but the details of the construction technique have not been revealed. Its history dates back to the late Heian period. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it is believed to have been built as part of the Shugendo (mountain asceticism) that flourished during the Heian period. Shugendo was a religious practice that regarded mountains as places for spiritual practice, and Mt. The steep terrain and architecture of the Debito Hall have served as a symbol of the trials and enlightenment of the Shugendo practitioners. The building itself is made of wood and uses an architectural style called butai-zukuri. This style is also seen in Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto and other temples, and Tadokido is built in what can be considered its most extreme form. The construction materials and structure show the harmony between the high technology of the time and nature, and the beauty of the building is not only a religious structure, but also occupies an important place in Japanese architectural history. In recent years, direct entry to the Debito Hall has been severely restricted for reasons of nature conservation and cultural asset protection. Therefore, visitors generally gain their experience by walking through the mountains of Mt. Mitoku and gaining a distant view of the Debito Hall through the steep paths along the way. This ascetic-like experience conveys the spiritual significance of Mt. Through its mystical architecture and the history of mountain worship, the Debito Hall is a reminder of the depths of Japanese culture. Its value as a place for coexistence with nature, for spiritual cultivation, and as a crystallization of people's faith will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.