The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei

The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei are Japanese Buddhist monks who undertake a rigorous spiritual practice called kaihōgyō, involving long-distance running routines that can last up to a year. Historically, they run approximately 30 to 50 kilometers daily, totaling around 1,000 to 1,200 kilometers annually, as a form of meditation and spiritual discipline to cultivate endurance, humility, and enlightenment. This tradition, rooted in Tendai Buddhism, aims to demonstrate devotion and attain spiritual purity through strict physical and mental discipline over decades, embodying the monastic pursuit of enlightenment through intense physical effort.