京都・奈良の紅葉を愛でる旅(その2-三千院、鞍馬寺、貴船神社、薬師寺)A trip to enjoy the autumn leaves of Kyoto and Nara(Part 2-Sanzen-in,Kurama-dera,Kifune-Jinjya,Yakushi-ji)(Monday, November 14, 2022-No.46)

京都・奈良の紅葉を愛でる旅(その2-三千院鞍馬寺貴船神社薬師寺)A trip to enjoy the autumn leaves of Kyoto and Nara(Part 2-Sanzen-in,Kurama-dera,Kifune-Jinjya,Yakushi-ji)(Monday, November 14, 2022-No.46)

1.三千院
三千院(さんぜんいん)は、京都市左京区大原来迎院町にある天台宗の寺院である。京都市街の北東の山中、かつては貴人や仏教修行者の隠棲の地として知られた大原の里にある。

三千院延暦年間(782‐806)に伝教大師最澄比叡山東塔南谷(とうとうみなみだに)の山梨の大木の下に一宇を構えたことに始まる。

1.Sanzen-in
Sanzen-in is a temple of the Tendai sect located in Ohara Raigoin-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. Located in the mountains northeast of Kyoto city, Ohara Village was once known as a retreat for nobles and Buddhist practitioners.

Sanzen-in Temple dates back to the Enryaku era (782-806) when Dengyo Daishi Saicho set up a temple under a large Japanese pear tree in Hieizan East Tower Minamidani.

Goten-mon(御殿門)

Syuheki-en(聚碧園) Shuhekien is a garden with a pond that can be viewed from the reception hall, and it is said that it was built by Sowa Kanamori, a master of the tea ceremony in the Edo period.

Warabe-Jizo(わらべ地蔵) On the south side of Ojo Gokuraku-in, there are small Jizo statues standing beside Benten Pond. These Jizo statues, named Warabe Jizo, were created by Takashi Sugimura, a stone sculptor.

Yusei-en and Shin-den(有清園と宸殿)

Osana-Roku Jizo(おさな六地蔵) "Roku" in Rokujizo does not mean the number of Jizo, but it means the Jizo who saves from Rokudo. In Buddhism, the six realms (Rokudo) refer to the six worlds (or state of life) in which sentient beings(衆生) reincarnate as a result of their karma. The six worlds are Ten-do, Human-do, Shura-do, Animal-do, Gaki-do, and Hell-do. Of these, the path of heaven, humans, and  asura are called the three good ways, and the path of animals, hungry ghosts, and hell are called the three evil ways.

Ojou-Gokurakuinn(往生極楽院) The National Treasure Amida Nyorai statue, Kanzeon Bodhisattva statue on the right, and Seishi Bodhisattva statue on the left are enshrined.

2.鞍馬寺
鞍馬寺(くらまでら)は、京都市左京区鞍馬本町にある鞍馬弘教(くらまこうきょう)の総本山の寺院である。京都盆地の北に位置し、豊かな自然環境を残す鞍馬山の南斜面に位置する。鞍馬は牛若丸(源義経)が修行をした地として著名であり、能の『鞍馬天狗』でも知られる。

鞍馬山には、神代以前からの古神道陰陽道修験道等の山岳宗教の要素も含まれている。宗派に捉われない懐の深さは鞍馬寺の宗教伝統となっている。

2.Kurama-dera

Kurama-dera Temple is the head temple of Kurama Kokyo, located in Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. Located in the northern part of the Kyoto Basin, it is located on the southern slope of Mt. Kurama, where a rich natural environment remains. Kurama is famous as the place where Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune) trained, and is also known for the Noh drama "Kurama Tengu".

Mount Kurama also includes elements of mountain religions such as ancient Shinto, Onmyodo, Shugendo, etc. The depth of the tolerance that is not bound by sects is a religious tradition of Kurama Temple.

Nio-mon(San-mon) (仁王門 山門) temple gate guarded by fierce Deva Kings

Taho-to(多宝塔) two-storied pagoda

Honden(Main Hall)

rare tiger Koma-inu狛犬 dog) in front of Hon-den Kon-do(本殿金堂).This is also believed to be the influence of Shintoism. Why are Koma-inu tigers? The reason is that when Gantei Shonin(鑑禎上人), the founder of Kurama-dera Temple and a senior disciple of Ganjin Wajou(鑑真和上), was attacked by demons, he was saved by Bishamonten, and appeared on the Moon of the Tiger, the Day of the Tiger, and the Hour of the Tiger.

Monument of 'Inochi'  Statue of Love, Light and Power 'Life’  愛と光と力の像「命」

3.貴船神社
貴船神社(きふねじんじゃ)は、京都市左京区鞍馬貴船町にある神社である。貴船山と鞍馬山に挟まれた森林鬱蒼とする山峡に鎮座する。社前には賀茂川の上流に位置する貴船川が流れており、京の市中を潤す鴨川の源流とも考えられた。水の神様として、全国の料理・調理業や水を取扱う商売の人々から信仰を集めている。
古来より歴代天皇は干ばつの時には黒馬を、長雨には白馬を奉納して祈願をしていたといい、後に生きた馬に替えて、馬形の板に着色した「板立馬」を奉納したと伝えられる。これが現在の絵馬の原形となったため、貴船神社が「絵馬発祥の社」といわれる。
3.Kifune-jinja
Kifune-jinja Shrine is a shrine located in Kifune-cho, Kurama, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. It is enshrined in a densely forested mountain gorge between Mt. Kibune and Mt. Kurama. The Kifune River, which is located upstream of the Kamo River, flows in front of the shrine, and was thought to be the source of the Kamo River, which waters the city of Kyoto. As the god of water, it is worshiped by people in the food and cooking industries and businesses that handle water from all over Japan.
It is said that since ancient times, successive emperors have dedicated black horses during droughts and white horses during long rains. It is said that later, instead of live horses, horse-shaped colored boards called 'Itatateuma' were dedicated. Since this became the original form of the current ema, Kifune Shrine is said to be 'the birthplace of ema'.

 'the birthplace of ema'. An ema is a small wooden board that we write our wishes on and offer at a Shinto shrine. 

4.薬師寺
薬師寺(やくしじ)は、奈良県奈良市西ノ京町にある法相宗大本山の仏教寺院である。この寺は天武天皇9年(680年)、天武天皇の発願により、飛鳥の藤原京奈良県橿原市城殿〈きどの〉町)の地に造営が開始され、平城京への遷都後の8世紀初めに現在地の西ノ京に移転したものである。
東塔は、現在寺に残る建築のうち、奈良時代天平年間)に遡る唯一のものであり、総高34.1メートル(相輪含む)。この塔は、天平2年(730年)に平城京にて新築されたとする説が通説となっている。一見六重の塔に見えるが、下から1・3・5番目の屋根は裳階(もこし)であり、構造的には三重の塔である。仏塔建築としては他に類例のない意匠を示す。
4.Yakushi-ji
Yakushi-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Construction of this temple began in the 9th year of Emperor Tenmu (680), at the request of Emperor Tenmu, on the grounds of Fujiwara-kyo in Asuka (Kidono-cho, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture). It was moved to its present location, Nishinokyo, at the beginning of the century.
The East Pagoda is the only remaining building in the temple that dates back to the Nara period (Tenpyo era), with a total height of 34.1 meters (including the Sorin(finial of a Japanese pagoda)). The prevailing theory is that this pagoda was built in Heijo-kyo in 730. At first glance, it looks like a six-storied pagoda, but the first, third, and fifth roofs from the bottom are mokoshi (double-roof structure), and structurally it is a three-storied pagoda. As a pagoda architecture, it exhibits a unique design.

The east pagoda of Yakushiji Temple lit up. It is designated as a national treasure.

The West Pagoda was rebuilt in 1981. Compared to the East Pagoda, the vivid colors catch the eye, but it can also be said that the use of colors is representative of Nara.