修験 · しゅげん · priesthood

shusen

Term referring to ascetic practices in Shinto.

Definition

Shusen are a key aspect of the ascetic practices (shugendō) that combine Shinto beliefs with Buddhist and Taoist elements. Practitioners engage in rigorous training in mountainous areas to achieve spiritual purification and enlightenment. The term refers to both the practices and the systems that guide them, reflecting the historical intertwining of Shinto with asceticism.

Etymology

The etymology of shusen indicates a focus on methods of training and purification, deriving from 'shugendō' which means 'the path of training and testing.'