In the year 864, Mount Fuji erupted violently for six months, resulting in the burial of entire villages under a massive field of hardened lava. Over the course of a millennium, a dense forest grew upon this lava field, casting its shadow on the snow-capped volcano. Officially known as Aokigahara, but commonly referred to as jukai, meaning "sea of trees," this forest became a popular hiking destination a few hours away from Tokyo in the Yamanashi prefecture. However, not everyone ventured there for the fresh air and breathtaking views. Aokigahara held a darker allure, for it had gained a dark reputation in being the most haunted forest in the world.
But how did this serene and picturesque forest at the base of Mount Fuji become so intertwined with deaths?
One theory dates back centuries to a morbid practice carried out by certain Buddhist monk sects.
In Japan, Mount Fuji and its surrounding forests, including Aokigahara, are considered sacred spaces. For more than a millennium, ascetic Buddhist monks would retreat to these forests to engage in extreme forms of self-denial and meditation that eventually led to their deaths.
According to a particular tradition, these monks would meditate in the forest for 1,000 days, subsisting solely on leaves and bark. Afterward, they would willingly be "buried alive" to continue their meditation in underground crypts. Their ultimate aim was to transform their bodies into sokushinbutsu, a type of mummy, while still alive. Although 18 of these "self-mummified" monks' remains are displayed in parts of Japan, scientists believe they were actually mummified after their deaths.
Aokigahara's prominence in popular culture played a significant role in its association. In 1960, Japanese author Seicho Matsumoto published a short story called "Tower of Waves," revolving around star-crossed lovers separated by circumstances beyond their control.
However, the book that truly propelled the "Aokigahra forest" to fame was published in the 1990s. Author Wataru Tsurumi wrote a manual an unadorned guide. "Undoubtedly, the book generated significant controversy "It even included a section about Aokigahara forest, describing it as 'the perfect place".
Apart from the historical accounts and myths, it is believed that there exists a gate to hell and a demonic entity within the Aokigahara forest. According to Japanese popular belief, if someone dies while consumed by deep feelings of hatred, anger, sadness, or a desire for revenge, their soul becomes trapped in this world and continues to wander. These souls, known as yurei, appear to those affected by the curse or who cross their path. Yurei are also depicted in various modern cultural references, including movies.
Some Japanese spiritualists suggest that the trees in the haunted forest have absorbed malevolent energy over the course of centuries.
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