Saigoku 33 Kannon

We encounter legend in the history of the Saigoku pilgrimage. It traces back to 718 when a monk named Tokudo fell ill. He descended into hell, where Emma-O (Sanskrit Yama), King of Hell, noted the growing number of souls in his realm. He told Tokudo that if he established 33 sacred sites for Kannon, travelers could avoid hellfire. Emma gave Tokudo 33 seals to verify visits, starting the custom of stamping pilgrim books. However, people were skeptical, and no one believed Tokudo, who buried the seals before he died. In the 980s, Emperor Kazan retired and became a monk named Nyukaku. He discovered the seals Tokudo had buried and, using his Imperial influence, helped launch the pilgrimage, even though some temples along the route were not yet established. Kazan is also credited with founding the Bando circuit, an effort by eastern factions to benefit from the retired Emperor's status. The Saigoku route likely began around 1100, with the Bando route emerging a century later. Many shorter routes dedicated to Kannon followed.