A Study of Heritage Management based on the Historical Change of Temple in Kumano Pilgrimage Route Iseji

Abstract

In recent years, it has been often discussed that the community should take part in heritage conservation. But, when a community manages heritage, the historical relationship between the heritage and the community needs to be considered. This study aims to clarify the historical change in the management of cultural heritage, using the example of Ishibutsuan temple along the Kumano pilgrimage route Iseji and based on a literature survey, the analysis of the space structure, and the distribution of the donors. The results show that, in the pre-modern period, Ishibutsuan temple relied on pilgrims and relevant people because the pilgrimage was flourishing then. After the middle of the 19th century, walking pilgrims had disappeared due to the development of the modern transportation system. Therefore, the temple established monuments of local people and acquired the worship of the local community. After the inscription of Iseji on the World Heritage list, the number of walking tourists increased slightly. In conclusion, tourists must contribute to management as was the case in the pre-modern period. Also, Ishibutusuan temple needs to reconstruct the space structure to attract tourists. For instance, it can incorporate a resting place like the one that existed in the past.