Weekly Topics/Archive
November 2020 |
Autumn leaves are at thir best throughout the country.
For example, Hieizan Enryaku-ji temple, Hikone Castle, “Koto Sanzan”meaning
3 mountains
on the eastern part of the Lake Biwa, Mii-dera temple, Ishiyama-dera temple,
etc. in Shiga
prefecture.
Ishiyama-dera temple is the nearest to my place.
The event, special viewing of Kannon statue associated with the Azai family,
is being held
at Ishiyama-dera temple.
So, I decided to go there for special viewing along with autumn leaf viewing.
[Note] special viewing ; 特別拝観、 associated with 〜 ; 〜と関係がある、〜とゆかりの
the Azai family ; 浅井家、 along with 〜 ; 〜を兼ねて、autumn leaf viewing ; 紅葉狩り
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| Promotional leaflet about special viewing of Kannon statue associated wih
the Azai family |
I took the Keihan Bus from JR Ishiyama bus stop and got to Ishiyama-dera
sanmon-mae
bus stop in 10 minutes.
It's crowded with decent tourists for autumn leaf viewing.
I visited this temple once twelve years ago.
At that time, it was for plum blossom viewing at plum orchard inside the
temple.
(Reference) Exploration of Ishiyama-dera temple that is known as “Temple of Flower”
associated with Murasaki Shikibu (2008.03.17)
[Note] promotional leaflet ; 宣伝用チラシ、 decent ; そこそこの、
Let me touch on Ishiyama-dera Temple briefly.
(See Ishiyamdera official website for details.)
| Rough outline of Ishiyamadera Temple |
| Regious sect / Sango / Jikaku |
To-ji Shingon sect / Settukozan / Head temple of the sect |
| Principal image |
Chokufu and Hibutsu(Note1) Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu |
| Kaiki / Kaisan / Founded |
Emperor Shomu / Roben Sojo(priest) / 747 |
| Main Cultural Property |
National treasure ; Main hall, Taho-to pagoda,etc.
Important Cultural Property ;
Todai-mon Gate, Shoro (belltower)
Wooden seated statue of Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu, etc. |
| History of Ishiyamadera Temple |
See Ishiyamdera official website for details |
(Note1) Chokufu (Imperial seal) originally mean to lock by twisting paper with the emperor's
signature around a key.
The principal image at Ishiyama-dera temple is unveiled once every
33 years or
in the following year after new emperor has ascended the throne.
Hibutsu means a hidden Buddhist statue, which is closed to the public for regious
reason and so ordinarily enshrined in Zushi or others.
[Note] touch on 〜 briefly ; 〜について少し述べる(触れる)
Sango ; 山号 (Sango means an honorific mountain prefix), honorific ;敬称の、prefix
; 接頭辞
Jikaku ; 寺格 (Jikaku means status of a Buddhist temple)、 principal image
; 本尊
Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu ; 如意輪観音菩薩、 Kaisan ; 開山 (Kaiki means the first chief
priest)
Kaiki ; 開基 (Kaiki means the patron of the temple in its founding)、Roben
Sojo ; 良弁僧正
Taho-to pagoda ; 多宝塔、 Shoro (belltower) ; 鐘楼、 imperal seal ; 天皇の封印
twist 〜around −; 〜を−に巻き付ける、 unveiled ; ベールを脱いだ、公開された
ascend the throne ; 即位する、keep 〜hidden from view ; 〜を見えない所に隠しておく、非公開にする
enshrine ; 祀る、 Zushi ; 厨子
I went through To-daimon Gate which is desinated as a nationally important
cultural
property to enter the temple grounds.
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| An explanation signboard about origin and history of To-daimon Gate (2020.11.13_14:01) |
Ishiyama-dera Engi Emaki and To-daimon temple |
When I stepped inside the temple grounds, there appeared a tunnel of scarlet
maple
leaves along the approach.
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The view of the tunnel of autumn leaves along the approach extending from
To-daimon temple
(2020.11.13_14:03) |
When I go ahead on the stone-paved approach, there appear Kofuen Hakuji-tei
on the left
side and Daikokuten on the right side.
[Note] temple grounds ; 境内、 explanation signboard ; 説明板
Ishiyama-dera Engi Emaki ; 石山寺縁起絵巻、 depict ; (絵など)を描写する、picture scroll
; 絵巻物
(It means picture scroll depicting the stories about Ishiyama-dera temple)
step inside 〜 ; 〜に足を踏み入れる、 scarlet maple leaves ; 赤く鮮やかな紅葉
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version
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The view of autumn leaves from Kofuen
Hakuji-tei (2020.11.13_14:04)
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The view of autumn leaves at the garden of
Daikokuten (2020.11.13_14:07) |
I paid 600 yen as an admission fee at the visitor entrance to go further
inside the temple
grounds.
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| The scarlet maple leaves around the visitor entrance (2020.11.13_14:10) |
When you get to the top of the long flight of stone steps, you can see
Taho-to Pagoda (National Treasure) in front, Bishamon-do Hall on the right
and Hondo (main temple) on the left.
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| Taho-to Pagoda(National Treasure) surrounded by autumn leaves (2020.11.13_14:16) |
The following is Bishamon-do Hall enshrining a statue of Tobatsu Bishamonten
(Important Cultural Property, Heian Period) , statues of Kisshoten and
Zennishi-dozi that are its
attendant statue.
It is said that Zenni-dozi is a child between Bishamonten and Kisshoten.
[Note] the long flight of stone stepst ; 長い石の階段、 Bishamon-do Hall ; 毘沙門堂
statue of Tobatsu Bishamonten ; 兜跋毘沙門天像、Kisshoten ; 吉祥天
Zennishi-dozi ; 善膩師童子、attendant statue ; 脇侍
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| Bishamon-do Hall (2020.11.13_14:17) |
The Tobatsu Bishamonten (Important Cultural Property, Heian Period) housed
in the middle of the hall |
When I get to the top of the flight of stone steps on the right, there
is the Hondo main hall (wooden building, Heian period).
It's the oldest wooden building in Shiga Prefecture.
It' said that the naijin (inner sanctum of the hall) was rebuilt in 1096
and the Gejin (outer
place of worship for public people) was rebuilt in 1602 owing to the donation
made by
Yodogimi.
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| The Hondo main hall (National Treasure) of Ishiyama-dera temple (2020.11.13_14:19〜15:01) |
There is room of Murasaki Shikibu Genji on the right side of the entrance
at the Hondo.
Murasaki Shikibu confined herself to this room to write the Tale of Genji
in the Kankou
(寛弘) period.
It's said she first wrote the 12th chapter “Suma” and the 13th chapter
“Akashi”.
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| Room of Genji where Murasaki Shikibu wrote the Tale of Genji (2020.11.13_14:22) |
[Note] housed in 〜；〜に安置された
naijin (inner sanctum of the main hall) ; 内陣、 sanctum ; 聖域、神聖な場所
Gejin (outer place of worship for the common people) ; 外陣
owing to 〜 ； 〜 のおかげで、〜により、 donation ; 寄付、寄進、 Yodogimi ; 淀君
confine oneself to 〜 ; 〜に参籠する、〜に閉じこもる
I paid an additional fee of 500 yen as an entrance fee of Hondo naijin
to view Kannon
statue associated with the Azai family.
This kannon is wooden statue of Nyoirin Kannon in half-lotus position (a
height of about
25 cm, from Muromachi to Sengoku period).
Please see the appearance or form of the statue on the opening promotional
leaflet
about special viewing because taking pictures is prohibited.in the hall.
It has a sword unusually as kannon statue and is characterized by its chubby
cheeks.
As the story goes, Sukemasa Azai who was a warrior in the nothern part
of Ohmi
Province in the Sengoku period rebuilt Miroku-ji temple near his residential
castle, and
the Kannon statue had been the principal image of this temple since then.
Ishiyam-dera temple was revived with the assistance of Yodo-dono who was
a
great-granddaughter of Sukemasa.
In this connection, the Kannon is said to have been donated by a certain
temple in
Gifu Prefecture in 1944.
[Note] wooden statue of Nyoirin Kannon in half-lotus position ; 木造如意輪観音半跏像
additional fee ; 追加料金、 sword ; 剣、 unusually ; 珍しく、 chubby cheeks ; ふくよかな頬
be characterized by 〜 ; 〜が特徴である、 as the story goes ; 伝えられるところによれば
warrioe ; 武士、武将、 residential castle ; 居城、 revive ; 復興させる、Yodo-dono ; 淀殿
great-granddaughter ; ひ孫娘、 donate ; 寄付(寄贈)する
An ancient document was specially opened to the public at the same time
in this event.
It's the document “Yamaoka-Kagekore-Ie-no-keizu” (genealogy of Yamaoka
Kagekore's
Family) about Yaheizi Hidemitsu AKECHI (commonly called Samanosuke) who
attracts
attention as a character of NHK Taiga drama “Kirin ga kuru”.
The outline is described as follows.
Soon after the Honnoji Incident in 1582, the army of Hidemitsu who was
a senior vassal of
Mitsuhide AKECHI heading for Azuchi castle fought agaainst the army of
Yamaoka clan
who was a local clan in Omi Province on Nobunaga's side, around Seta-hashi
Bridge
(Setanokarahasi Bridge) near Ishiyama-dera temple.
Hidemitsu is famous in the legend of “Crossing of Lake Biwa by Samanosuke”
that he
crossed Lake Biwa on horseback.
The document attracts attention in relation to this legend.
[Note] ancient document ; 古文書、 open to the public ; 公開する、
Yamaoka-Kagekore-Ie-no-keizu; 山岡景以舎系図(genealogy of Yamaoka Kagekore's Family)
genealogy ; 系図、 Yaheizi Hidemitsu AKECHI ; 明智弥平次秀満
attract attention ; 注目されている
NHK Taiga drama “Kirin ga kuru” ; NHK大河ドラマ“麒麟がくる”
Taiga drama means the long-running historical drama series on NHK TV.
Honnoji Incident ; 本能寺の変、senior vassal ; 重臣 (vassal ; 臣下、家臣)、 local clan
;土豪
the legend of “Crossing of Lake Biwa by Samanosuke” ; 「佐馬助の湖水渡り」伝説
in relation to 〜 ; 〜との関連で
In Naijin, I was also able to view many Buddhist statues including national
important
cultural properties as below.
・Omaedachi-zo statue (Note.2) produced by copying seated statue of Nyoirin Kannon
which is the principal image and a hidden Buddist statue enshrined at
the center front
・Seated statue of Fudo Myoo (Iimportant Cultural Property. built in Heian
period)
at Goma-do Hall on the left side
・Wooden standing statue of Bishamonten (Important Cultural Property. built
in Heian
period, 250cm tall, yosegi-zukuri technique) and standing statue of Niten
(Built inHeian
period, yosegi-zukuri technique, 160cm tall each) at the northeastern
corner
・Shingi (Wooden core. Important Cultural Property, built in Nara period)
of the molded
statue of standing Kongo Zao which was the flanking attendant of the now
lost principal
image, etc.
(Note 2) Omaedachi-zo statue means the one which is enshrined in place of a hidden
Buddhist statue normally withheld from the public in front of its
zushi and also
reminds worshipers of its reverand appearance or shape.
[Note] Omaedachi-zo statue ; お前立ち像、 Goma-do Hall ; 護摩堂
yosegi-zukuri technique ; 寄木造、 shingi ; 心木
molded statue of standing Kongo Zao ; 塑像金剛蔵王立像、 flanking attendant ; 脇侍
(flanking ; 側面にある、 attendant ; 付き人、お供、 now lost ; 今は無き
in place of 〜〜の代わりに、の代理で、 withheld from the public ; 一般公開されていない
zushi ; 厨子、 worshiper ; 参拝者、 remind A of B ; AにBをしのばせる、 AにBを思い出させる
reverand ; 尊い
The view of autumn leaves from the main hall was also fantastic.
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version.
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Fallen colored leaves on the roof of Rennyo-do Hall
(2020.11.13_14:20) |
The view from the corridor of the main hall
(2020.11.13_14:54) |
When I followed arrow after geting out of Hondo, there appeared Sanju-hassho
Gongensha Shrine.
It's said to be the Chinju-sha Shrine of Ishiyama-dera Temple in which
the spirits of
succesive Emperors before emperor Tenchi are enshrined.
The autumn leaves were vivid here too.
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| Sanju-hassho Gongensha Shrine and the surrounding autumn leaves (2020.11.13_15:02) |
The signboard about Sanju-hassho
Gongensha Shrine |
[Note] Rennyo-do Hall ; 蓮如堂、 corridor ; 回廊、 follow arrow ; 矢印(順路)に沿って進む
Sanju-hassho Gongensha Shrine ; 三十八所権現社、 Chinju-sha Shrine ; 鎮守社
succesive Emperors ; 歴代天皇、 enshrine ; 祀る、安置する、 vivid ; 色鮮やかな
When I walked further, there was Ishiyamadera temple's Kyozo (Important
Cultural
Property, built in Momoyama period).
Kyozo means sutra repository.
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Kyozo and the surrounding autumn leaves
(2020.11.13_15:05) |
The signboard about Kyozo
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When I went further away, I got to the hill on which Tahoto pagoda (National
Treasure,
built in Kamakura period) is located.
It's said this was built owing to the donation by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
It has beautiful curved lines of eaves, hasn't it?
The view of autumn leaves in the temple grounds below the hill is marvelous
too.
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version.
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Tahoto pagoda (National Treasure)
(2020.11.13_15:10) |
The view of the temple grounds below the hill
(2020.11.13_15:12) |
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Tukimitei Bower in autumn
(2020.11.13_15:14) |
There is Tukimitei Bower ( As legend goes, this was
rebuilt in 1687.) on the eastern side of the hill.
People can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Setagawa
River while overlooking Lake Biwa far in the distance.
It is depicted in the picture “the Autumn Moon at Ishiyama”
which is one of “the Eight Views of Omi” and also known
as a good spot to view the moon.
Every year on mid-autumn day, Shugetsu-sai (mid-autumn
harvest festival) is held and many people enjoy the harvest moon from here.
[Note] Kyozo ; 経蔵、 sutra ; 経典、 repository ; 収納場所、倉庫
go further away ; もつと先へ行く、 Tahoto pagoda ; 多宝塔、 owing to 〜 ; 〜のおかげで、のために
curved lines of eaves ; 軒の曲線、 marvelous ; 素晴らしい、すごく良い
Tukimitei Bower ; 月見亭、 bower ; 亭、あずまや、休憩所、as legend goes ; 伝、言い伝えによると
overlook 〜 ; (人が)〜を見渡す、 far in the distance ; はるか遠くに
depicted in 〜; 〜に描かれる、 Autumn Moon at Ishiyama ; 石山の秋月
Eight Views of of Omi ; 近江八景、 mid-autumn day ; 中秋の日、 harvest moon ; 中秋の名月
mid-autumn harvest festival ;中秋節、中秋祭
I walk the trail near the top of the temle grounds westward.
I enjoyed a glorious view of the line of maple trees coloured fierily.
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| A walking trail lined with maples turned red in the temple grounds (2020.11.13_15:17) |
There was a bronze statue of Murasaki Shikibu at one corner of Genji-en
Garden spreading
in the back of the grounds.
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| The bronze statue of Murasaki Shikibu surrounded by autumn leaves (2020.11.13_15:23) |
I descend the trail from here.
Please see two fantastic landscapes of autumn leaves as below.
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The view of autumn leaves in Muyuen Park
(2020.11.13_15:28) |
The autumn leaves covering the walking trail
(2020.11.13_15:32) |
Autum leaf viewing for about an hour and a half came down to the homestrech.
I got a visitor to take my commemorative photo under autumn leaves.
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| Commemorative photo taken under autumn leaves (2020.11.13_15:40) |
Finally, see three tones of the colored leaves at Ishiyama-dera temple.
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| Maple leaves and thier colors in the grounds of Ishiyamadera temple (2020.11.13_15:37〜15:50) |
I fully enjoyed fantastic autumn leaf viewing Today.
[Note] a glorious view of〜 ; 〜の絶景、 fierily ; 燃えるように赤く
Genji-en Garden ; 源氏苑、 come down to the homestrech ; 終局を迎える
get someone to take one's photo ; 人に写真を撮ってもらう
Japanese Diary archive / No.1002-2020.11.13 /
「紅葉が見頃の石山寺へ―浅井家ゆかりの観音さん 特別拝観―」
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