Eigen-ji Temple | The chirping of wild birds and the sound of the Echi River. Nestled in a secluded setting surrounded by the tranquil mountains and waters
永源寺 | 野鳥のさえずりと愛知川の渓声。うつろう山水にいだかれた幽境に佇む
The babbling of the river. A blue maple sways in the wind. Soft and cool sound. Standing quietly in the mountains of the Echi River, Eigen-ji Temple is the head temple of the Eigenji school of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. It is said that during the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, Sasaki Ujiyori, the feudal lord of Omi, welcomed Zen Master Jakushitsu Genko as the founder of the temple and built a monastery.
川のせせらぎ。青いもみじが風に揺れる。やわらかく涼しげな音。瑞石山と愛知川の山中、静かに佇む永源寺は、臨済宗永源寺派の大本山。南北朝時代、近江の領主であった佐々木氏頼が、寂室元光禅師を開山に迎え、伽藍を建立したのが始まりと伝わる。
With the voice of the Echi River faintly audible beyond the silence on your right, climb the stone steps to the shrine. The approach to the shrine is lined with maple trees, and in the early summer when I visited, the green maple leaves gave off a fresh air.
静寂の向こうよりかすかに聞こえる愛知川の渓声を右手に、石段の参道を登る。参道一帯にかえでの木が生い茂り、私が訪れた初夏には青々としたもみじが清新な空気を放っていた。
Ear washing water in front of the gate. After hearing the filth of the world, I wash my ears and head to the temple gate.
門前の洗耳水。世俗の汚れを聞いた耳を洗い清め、山門へと向かう。
A majestic mountain gate. It was built in 1802 in the late Edo period after seven years of construction. The Shakyamuni Triad and the Sixteen Arhats are enshrined on the top of the building.
威厳を放つ山門。江戸時代後期の1802年に、7年もの歳月を経て建立された。楼上には釈迦三尊と十六羅漢が祀られている。
After passing through the main gate, the precincts are lined with the Kuri, bell tower, abbot's quarters, teaching hall, Zendo, Kaisando, etc. The main hall has a large reed-thatched roof, which is rare in Japan. The statue of Sho Kannon, which is the principal object of worship, is also called “Yotsugi Kannon”, and it is said that if you pray for it, you will be blessed with children and heirs.
山門をくぐると、境内には庫裡・鐘楼・方丈・法堂・禅堂・開山堂などが建ち並ぶ。本堂は、全国でも珍しいヨシ葺きの大屋根を持つ。秘仏である本尊の聖観音像は「世継ぎ観音」とも呼ばれ、祈願すると子供や跡継ぎに恵まれると伝えられてきた。
Successive generations of high priests gathered at Eigen-ji Temple, and it is said that there were as many as 2,000 monks in training under the patronage of the Sasaki clan at its peak. During the period of war, the temple was destroyed by fire, but in the Edo period, when Issomonmori Zenji settled down, the temples were refurbished with the help of Emperor Gomizunoo and Tofukumonin, as well as the patronage of the Ii clan of the Hikone clan.
永源寺には歴代高僧が集まり、佐々木氏の庇護のもと盛時には2000人もの修行僧を擁したという。戦乱の時代には兵火で衰えたが、江戸時代に一絲文守禅師が住山すると、後水尾天皇や東福門院らの帰依を得て、さらに彦根藩井伊氏の庇護によって諸堂が整えられた。
In front of the main hall, you can see a watchtower-shaped bell tower with a rare shape of hakama-koshi style, irimoya-zukuri style, and tile-roofed style.
本堂前には、袴腰、入母屋造、桟瓦葺という珍しい形状の物見櫓状の鐘楼を見ることができる。
A cool garden. Mirror letters reflected in clear water.
涼やかな庭園。澄んだ水に映る鏡文字。
In the small Daihikaku in one corner of the precincts stands a quiet Shokannon.
境内の一角のこぢんまりした大悲閣の中には、閑かな聖観音が佇む。
Founder Jakushitsu Zenji also wrote a poem, "The blue mountain behind the roof, the flowing water in front of the cage." The changing scenery of four seasons still conveys the solemn atmosphere in which countless monks devoted themselves to training.
開山寂室禅師の詩にも「屋後の青山、檻前の流水」と詠われ、深い自然にいだかれた、そこは正に秘境の地。春夏秋冬うつろう風光が、数知れぬ僧たちが修行に勤しんだ厳かな空気を今も変わらず伝える。
about this venue
Location: 41 Eigenji Koyacho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture
Phone number: 0748-27-0016
〈重文〉絹本著色地蔵十王図（11幅） 塑造寂室和尚坐像 紙本墨書寂室和尚遺誡 紙本墨書寂室元光消息 紙本墨書寂室元光墨蹟 紙本墨書永源寺開山祭文 紙本墨書永源寺開山初七日香語 紙本墨書永源寺開山十三回忌法語（2幅） 紙本墨書永源寺開山三十三回忌陞座語並ニ香語（3幅） 紙本墨書永源寺開山西来庵入祖堂香語 寂室元光墨蹟 絹本著色約翁徳検像
所在地：滋賀県東近江市永源寺高野町41
電話番号：0748-27-0016