Hakushin

was a high-level Buddhist priest and Living Budha who created the barrier around Mount Hakurei.

Origins
Saint Hakushin was a high-level Buddhist priest who used his power to save the humans who lived in the area around Mount Hakurei. He became so revered that the people erected a temple in his honor at the base of Mount Hakurei, which criminals and disillusioned people would travel to in order to save their souls. However years of famine and disease plagued the land and Hakushin eventually fell ill tending to the sick. He decided to sacrifice himself to save his people from the pestilence in the area by becoming a living Budha.

He did as much and was buried alive, but as he was waiting to die underground he began to have doubts, fearing death and the darkness as such his soul couldn't move on.

Falling into despair he began to think this was because he hated his followers who prayed for his death in order that they may be saved. With his soul lost in the darkness Naraku then manipulated the emotionally damaged Hakushin into serving him, reviving him so that he could erect a powerful barrier around Mount Hakurei. He then sat in his temple inside the mountain and focused on his barrier.

During the story
He first helped Bankotsu remotely during his fight on Hijiri island and helped him escape through his Dokko.

Later he was confronted by Sango and Miroku in his temple on Mount Hakurei and explained his past and why he would willingly served Naraku. Unable to get through to him the duo attacked him. After a brief fight he fled when Miroku used his Wind Tunnel to destroy his barrier.

He then happened upon Kikyō, who wanted to help him pass peacefully into the afterlife and dissolve the barrier around Mount Hakurei. After he let down his barrier so that Kikyo could touch and peer into his soul, she told him that she felt no anger or hatred coming from him, only sorrow. She also helped 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, the resulting dissapointment he had for himself was the actual source of his despair. Kikyō comforted him by saying that there is no shame in wanting more life, and that he has done more than enough good. He then allowed her to assist him in finally crossing over and finding peace.

Powers & Abilities

 * Immense Spiritual Power: Saint Hakushin was one of the strongest priest/priestess shown in the series. Shintarō and his fellow villagers who lived near Hijiri island, close to Mt. Hakurei, knew of Hakushin's great power, as he said that when Hakushin was alive, he had immensely strong spiritual power that he used to save countless people. Such was his power that even Naraku enlisted his help, as he was confident that Hakushin could protect him from his demon enemies.
 * Immense Purification Barrier: Hakushin had created the largest and strongest barrier seen in the series surrounding Mt. Hakurei. It prevented any demon from passing through it, regardless of strength or abilities. It hindered even Sesshōmaru, a very powerful daiyōkai, and was able to cancel out the demonic powers of the evil yōkai sword, Tōkijin, and the protective properties of the Robe of the Fire-Rat; even the poison Miroku took in from the Saimyōshō was purified, saving him from certain death. The purification abilities were so great 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 well. 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 Kikyō 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 Shinidamachū were incapable of 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 in thought or deed. Indeed, Miroku was almost rendered completely immobile (and quite nauseous) when planning/attempting to grope Sango's rear end. Also before going to the mountain, Kikyō was requested to bring the last strand of hair from an aging and dying bandit who believe that Mt. Hakurei can bring salvation to even the most heinous of humans. This is probably due to the purity of Saint Hakushin's purification barrier as he is known for believing in salvation for all whether they are good or evil.
 * Protective Barrier: Hakushin can also create a smaller personal barrier around himself if his body was moved in some way.
 * Flight: While inside his personal barrier, Hakushin was able to fly, such as when he escaped from his mountain shrine following his fight with Miroku and Sango.
 * Remote Barriers & Telekinesis: Hakushin erected a barrier over Hijiri island by channeling his power through his vajra. This barrier was considerably weaker, but it was still strong enough to both put both Shippō and Kirara out of commission and prevent Inuyasha from using the Kaze no Kizu. After the barrier was dispelled by Miroku and Shintarō, 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 Shintarō, 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. He is also capable of teleporting himself.

Weapons

 * 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, making it return to its katana form. 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 Shintarō's family line for several generations.

Poem
The poem sung as he was buried:

English= 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... Nihongo= 生きるは死ぬる、死ぬるは生きる 綺麗は汚い、綺麗は浄い 良いは悪い、悪いは良い 生きるは死ぬる、死ぬるは生きる 白心上人土の中 聖戻りの白霊山 生きるは死ぬる、死ぬるは生きる... Rōmaji= Ikiru wa shinuru, shinuru wa ikiru; Kirei wa kitanai, kitanai wa kirei; Ī wa warui, warui wa ī; Ikiru wa shinuru, shinuru wa ikiru; Hakushin Shōnin tsuchi no naka; Hijiri modori no Hakureizan; Ikiru wa shinuru, shinuru wa ikiru...

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

Media appearances
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Manga

 * Chapter 258
 * Chapter 268
 * Chapter 269
 * Chapter 270
 * Chapter 272

Anime
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 * Episode 112
 * Episode 113
 * Episode 118
 * Episode 119
 * Episode 120