Shugendō; Japanese mountain asceticism
A syncretic religious tradition combining elements of Shinto, Buddhism, and folk practices, centered on mountain ascetic training.
Shugendō is a uniquely Japanese religion centered on mountain ascetic practice.
彼は修験道の行者として、厳しい修行を積んでいる。
As a practitioner of Shugendō, he undergoes rigorous training.
Esoteric Buddhism, which heavily influenced Shugendō; 修験道 is a distinct syncretic tradition rather than a pure Buddhist school.
Formed from 修験, ascetic practice undertaken to acquire spiritual power, and 道, “way” or “tradition.” It denotes the syncretic Japanese tradition of mountain asceticism.