Shugendo, which prospered during Japan’s Middle Ages, valued ascetic practices and fused mountain worship with Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, Animism, astronomy, and medicine. However, since it was transmitted via oral tradition from one generation to the next, limited evidence can be found. Therefore, this essay analyzes 3D imaging data of stone reliefs found at Mt. Hiko, located in the Kyushu region of Japan, to discern whether the carvings depict certain deities and how the Sanskrit characters found in the moon circles represent Shugendo thinking. In addition, it examines how the influence of Shugendo art spread throughout the Kyushu region, Kiyomizu (Kagoshima Prefecture), and Aoki (Kumamoto Prefecture) as well as reassesses its cultural significance. With regard to the former, the results show that a relief of a seated Amitabha was engraved between two other deities: the Mahaasthaamapraapta and Avalokiteśvara. Concerning the latter, the findings reveal that these were the locations of Amitabha worship by the esoteric Tendai sect, which revered “the water” (rivers) and represented an association among Mt. Hiko, Kumano, and Aoki.

中文翻译：

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太原山佛教石刻浮雕研究。彦子与修根堂在九州地区的影响

在日本中世纪盛行的修根堂非常重视禁欲主义，并将山地崇拜与道教，神道教，佛教，万物有灵，天文学和医学相融合。但是，由于它是通过口头传统从一代传给下一代的，因此只能找到有限的证据。因此，本文分析了山顶发现的石材浮雕的3D成像数据。位于日本九州地区的彦子（Hiko）可以辨别雕刻品是否描绘出某些神灵，以及在月圆中发现的梵文人物如何代表修根堂的思想。此外，它还研究了修玄堂艺术的影响力如何在九州地区，鹿儿岛县清水市和熊本县青木市中传播，并重新评估了其文化意义。关于前者 结果表明，在另外两个神：（Mahaasthaamapraapta和Avalokiteśvara）之间刻有一个坐着的阿弥陀佛的浮雕。关于后者，研究结果表明，这就是神秘的天台教派崇拜阿弥陀佛的地方，该教派尊崇“水”（河流），并代表了泰山之间的联系。彦子，熊野和青木