Pilgrimages in Sarashina Nikki

Abstract

The Sarashina Nikki is the diary about the author’s journey and her life. It was written around 1060 A.D. by an author known only as the daughter of Sugawara no Takasue. The diary also tells about the author’s pilgrimage trips to many holy places and her dreams during those trips. This article aims to study the motive of the pilgrimages made by the author of the Sarashina Nikki. This study will help understand the significance of pilgrimages of Japanese high class ladies in the Heian period. From the study, the belief that the sacred manitou will come to give guidance to the believer in a dream is a motive for high class ladies to take pilgrimage trips in order to get guidance about their future. The dream also gives “hope” which gives them power to continue their lives.