Gobyō-bashi Bridge 御廟橋ごびょうばし

Passage into the Holiest Region

The third bridge of Oku-no-in is the Gobyō-bashi, or the Bridge of the Mausoleum. It marks the entrance to the most sacred of spiritual places at Mt. Kōya.

When entering and leaving the area beyond the river, priests and many lay people alike will pause at the bridge and bow in reverence toward the mausoleum in the belief that the great teacher himself does the same as he greets them.

Beyond this point, men must remove their hats, and photography is forbidden.

The bridge, though concrete, consists of thirty-six planks, one for each of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who surround Dainichi Nyorai in the Diamond Realm Mandala.

Hidden Adornments

In a exquisitely subtle detail, the Sanskrit letter (or shuji 種字) associated with each of these celestial beings is carved inversely on the underside of each plank of the bridge. They cannot be seen from above, but, when conditions are right, they appear reflected on the surface of the river below.

View of sanskrit seed letters reflected on water — Rare Photo Courtesy of Tamura Nobuhiro of Awesome Tours

Patience and Timing Needed

The best place to try and view the letters if from the bottom of the stone stairs to the left of the bridge (before crossing). But timing and great patience are required. The rare photo here was taken at 9:40 am in autumn.

Side view of the Gobyō-bashi Bridge — Side view of Gobyō-bashi Bridge

For more on the use of Sanskrit letters at Mt. Kōya, visit our FAQ page

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KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest