This is one of the series of Unusual Views of Celebrated Bridges in the Provinces, and Mt. Gyōdō got its name because it was a mountain for Shugendo. This bridge also appears in Chapter 7 of “Hokusai Manga“. It was built to connect Joinji Temple, which has stood on the hillside, and Seishintei, which can be seen on the top of the rock on the left. Joinji Temple is designated as a scenic spot in Tochigi Prefecture and is still visited by many tourists. The clouds rise from the bottom of the screen, and the scene of clouds fluttering over Seishintei, which is built on a sheer cliff, is suitable for the title of “the Hanging-cloud Bridge,” and is like a fairyland far from the mundane world. It is a suitable stage for Shugendo, which pursues the path of Buddhism.

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