Yamabushi

By Yossi Sheriff
yamabushi
19th century photograph of a yamabushi.

Yamabushi (山伏) are Japanese mountain ascetics and warriors, mostly of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.

In modern use, the term Yamabushi refers to practioners of Shugendō, a syncretic religion mixing Buddhist and Shinto elements. The religion places a heavy emphasis on asceticism and feats of endurance.