Hakushin

was a high level Buddhist priest who agreed to sacrifice himself to save his people from a pestilence in the area. He did so, but as he was waiting to die he began to hate his followers who prayed for his death in order that they may be saved. Naraku then manipulated the emotionally damaged Hakushin into erecting a powerful barrier around Mount Hakurei. He then sat in his temple inside the mountain and focused on his barrier. He helped Bankotsu during his fight on Hijiri island and then helped him escape through his dokko. Later he fought Sango and Miroku but fled when Miroku used his Wind Tunnel to destroy his barrier.

He then met Kikyo, who wanted to help him pass into the afterlife. She told him that she felt no hatred or anger coming him, only sorrow. She also helps him to remember the real reason he had not found peace in death. It wasn't because he hated the people who prayed for him to die, it was actually because at the last moment, he realized he did not want to die. Kikyo comforts him by saying that there is no shame in wanting life. He then allowed her to assist him in crossing over.

Powers and Abilities
Saint Hakushin was an immensely powerful priest, if not the most powerful in the series, possibly surpassing Kagome, Kikyo, Shinsen, Ungai, and Midoriko in terms of spiritual power. Shintarou and his fellow villagers who lived beside Hijiri Island and close to Mt. Hakurei knew of Hakushin's great power as he said that when Hakushin was alive, he had immensly strong spiritual power that he used to save countless people. Even Naraku enlisted his help as he knew that Hakushin's power could protect him from his demon enemies.


 * Barrier of Purification - Hakushin created a barrier around Mt. Hakurei, which was the strongest barrier seen in the series. It prevented any demon from passing through it, regardless of strength or abilities. It hindered even Sesshomaru, a daiyoukai, and was able to cancel out the protective properties of the Robe of the Fire-Rat; even the poison Miroku took in from the Saimyousho was purified, saving him from certain death. The purification abilities were so immense that it forced Inuyasha into his human form as a result of the suppression of his demon blood. The barrier also hindered other, non-demonic entities. As zombies and murderers, the Shichinintai felt more or less ill just from being in its periphery (Bankotsu even coughed and made retching noises when in the Saint's presence). As Kikyo was not completely human, it became increasingly difficult for her to move the closer she came to the mountain. It also made her body weaker to the extent that it couldn't hold onto the souls she absorbed as well as normal, and several (if not all of them) erupted from her body when she suffered strong physical trauma. Her shinidamachu were incapable entering the barrier altogether, putting her in extreme danger while she was inside of it. Humans could also be negatively affected by the barrier if they were impure of thought or deed. Indeed, Miroku was almost rendered immobile when planning attempting to grope Sango from behind.


 * Flight - He also showed that he can fly in his barrier which he showed when he escaped the mountain after his fight with Sango and Miroku.


 * Remote Barriers and Telekinesis - Hakushin erected a barrier over Hijiri Island by channeling his power through his vajra. This barrier was considerably weaker, however, but it was still strong enough to both put Shippo and Kirara out of commission and prevent Inuyasha from using the Kaze no Kizu. After the barrier was dispelled by Miroku and Shintaro, Hakushin used telekinesis to launch the vajra at the Tessaiga and forced it to revert to its old, battered sword form.


 * Healing - When his power was being channeled through his vajra, everyone in its vicinity was healed. All of Inuyasha's group, excluding Inuyasha but including Shintarou, were severely wounded by Bankotsu's Dragon Lightning. When light and "sparkles" emanated from the vajra, their wounds faded and they all regained consciousness at the same time. Whether this effect was intended or not is unclear.


 * Teleportation - Hakushin was able to teleport Bankotsu to his mountain shrine before he was felled by Inuyasha's group.

Weapons
Hakushin also used some mystical weapons to help him.

Dokko (Vajra): This was one of St. Hakushin's "weapons", which he can control remotely as he showed when he was on Mt. Hakurei but was still able to control it while it was on Hijiri Island. With it he can teleport anything, such as objects and people, which he showed when he used it to teleport Bankotsu from Hijiri Island back to his temple on Mount Hakurei. It can also purify demonic energy if it can hit it, similar to a sacred arrow, as seen when it purified Tessaiga's jyaki. The dokko can also create a barrier, though not as strong as the one on Mt. Hakurei.

Shakujō: This was one of St. Hakushin's "weapons", he likely used it in a manner similar to how Miroku uses his. It has been passed down Shintaro's family line for several generations.

Poem
The poem sung as he was buried,

To live is to die and to die is to live, What is Pure is Impure and Impure is Pure, What is Good is Evil and Evil is Good, To live is to die and to die is to live, In the grave of Monk Hakushin, The saint returns to Mt. Hakurei.

To live is to die and to die is to live...

The poem is sung a number of times throughout the Band of Seven Arc and Mt Hakurei Arc and is also sung by Kikyō.

Trivia
Hakushin almost had the same eyes as the vizards from Bleach with a black sclera, a yellow iris and a normal black pupil.