山 伏(やまぶし)

やまぶし

noun

mountain ascetic; yamabushi

1. mountain ascetic; practitioner of Shugendo

A practitioner of 修験道(しゅげんどう) (Shugendo) who undergoes ascetic training in the mountains to gain spiritual power. Recognizable by a distinctive robe, a small black cap, and a conch-shell horn.

山伏(やまぶし)が山(やま)を歩(ある)いている。

A mountain ascetic is walking through the mountains.

山伏(やまぶし)はほら貝(がい)を吹(ふ)いて合図(あいず)する。

The mountain ascetics signal by blowing a conch shell.

昔(むかし)から山伏(やまぶし)は、険(けわ)しい山(やま)で厳(きび)しい修行(しゅぎょう)を続(つづ)けてきた。

Since ancient times, mountain ascetics have carried out severe training in the rugged mountains.

Literally "one who lies down in the mountains," from 山(やま) (mountain) + 伏(ふ)す (to lie down). A practitioner of 修験道(しゅげんどう), the Japanese tradition of mountain asceticism that blends Buddhism, Shinto, and folk belief.

Common collocations

山伏(やまぶし)の格好(かっこう): yamabushi attire
山伏(やまぶし)の修行(しゅぎょう): the training of a mountain ascetic

Cultural note

Yamabushi are associated with sacred mountains such as 出羽三山(でわさんざん) and 大峰山(おおみねさん). Their conch-shell horn (ほら貝(がい)) is used both for signaling and in rituals.

general

Added 2026.7.18 6:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

29500/29920_yamabushi