Why were women prohibited from climbing Mount Fuji in history (until before the Meiji Restoration)?

Hello! That's a fascinating question, and it's something many people find incredible when they first hear it. This actually stems from complex religious and cultural reasons in Japan. Let me break it down for you.

Simply put, the ban on women climbing the mountain primarily existed because, in ancient Japanese belief, Mount Fuji wasn't regarded as an ordinary mountain. It was seen as a sacred, massive "shrine" inhabited by deities. Religious notions at the time held that the presence of women would "defile" this sacredness.

Let's look at the main reasons more specifically:

1. The Mountain Deity Was a Goddess Prone to "Jealousy"

The principal deity enshrined at Mount Fuji is Konohanasakuya-hime. She is an exceptionally beautiful goddess, delicate like cherry blossoms.

In ancient folk beliefs, it was widely thought that if other women entered the domain of this beautiful goddess, she would become "jealous." And if the goddess became jealous, the consequences could be severe—she might grow angry and cause a volcanic eruption, or bring illness or misfortune upon the climbers.

This sounds somewhat like mythology, but in that era of limited scientific understanding, people's reverence for nature and their imagination of deities were expressed in straightforward ways like this. To avoid angering the goddess and to protect everyone's safety, the simplest solution was to forbid women from ascending the mountain.

(This is a shrine dedicated to Konohanasakuya-hime, the core figure of Mount Fuji worship)

2. The Concept of "Impurity" (Women's Kegare)

This is a deeper religious reason rooted in ancient Japanese Shinto and certain Buddhist beliefs. There was a concept called "Kegare" (impurity or defilement).

People at the time considered blood and death to be the most significant sources of "kegare," as they could anger the gods and pollute sacred spaces. Because of menstruation and childbirth, women were labeled "impure" under these ancient religious notions.

• Menstruation: Seen as periodic "bloodshed," it was viewed as a source of "kegare."
• Childbirth: Although it represents the birth of life, the bloodshed involved in the process was also considered "kegare."

Therefore, to preserve the purity of Mount Fuji as a "holy mountain" and prevent its deities from being "defiled" by female "impurity," rules forbidding women's entry were established. These restrictions, known as "Nyonin Kinsei" (Women's Ban), weren't unique to Mount Fuji. Many other sacred mountains and temples in Japan had similar regulations at the time.

3. Social Roles and "Danger" Considerations

In ancient times, climbing Mount Fuji wasn't primarily for tourism or recreation as it is today. It was mostly a religiously motivated, arduous practice called Shugendō. The climbers were ascetics known as "yamabushi," and the journey was extremely difficult and dangerous.

In the feudal society characterized by rigid gender roles (men outside the home, women inside), it was generally believed that women were physically weaker and unsuited for such dangerous ascetic activities. So, ostensibly out of a "protective" stance (though inherently discriminatory), women were also restricted from climbing.

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Lifting the Ban: Times Changed!

So, when was this ban, which lasted over a thousand years, finally lifted?

The answer is the Meiji Restoration.

In 1868, Japan began the Meiji Restoration, comprehensively learning from the West and pursuing modernization. The new government deemed many old customs and taboos to be "feudal superstitions" hindering national progress.

Consequently, in 1872 (Meiji 5), the Meiji government officially issued an order lifting the "Nyonin Kinsei" from all sacred mountains.

Worth mentioning is that after the ban was lifted, a woman named Tatsu Takayama led a group of women to become the first recorded females to reach the summit of Mount Fuji. Through their actions, they advanced equal rights for Japanese women and inaugurated a new era where Mount Fuji was open to everyone.

To Summarize

The historical prohibition on women climbing Mount Fuji wasn't due to a single factor, but a combination of several:

• Religiously: Fear of the "jealous" goddess and the concept of female "impurity" (kegare).
• Socially: A patriarchal social structure and stereotypical views on women's roles.

Fortunately, with the progress of time, these outdated notions have been left behind in the annals of history. Today, Mount Fuji welcomes everyone from all over the world, regardless of gender, to challenge themselves and appreciate its beauty!