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Oct 2022 04
Saimyo-ji Temple
西明寺

Saimyo-ji Temple | What an elegant moss garden…
A gentle priest full of wisdom and a black cat stay quietly there.

西明寺 | 世にも風雅な苔庭。
そこには、叡智溢れる優しい住職と黒猫が佇む。

The refreshing, soft and cool sound of the leaves of the trees. A black cat with beautiful coat lies down leisurely. It is a scenery that symbolizes the calm land of Koto (The area east of Lake Biwa).
Saimyo-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect called Koto Sanzan along with Kongorin-ji and Hyakusai-ji. The chief priest kindly tolled me about the essence and transition of the temple in a polite, careful and quiet manner.

さわさわと、やわらかく涼しげな音。美しい毛並みの黒猫が、のんびりと寝そべる。穏やかな湖東の地を象徴するような景趣だ。
琵琶湖の東、鈴鹿山脈の西山腹の湖東平野を望む位置。金剛輪寺、百済寺とともに湖東三山と称される天台宗の仏教寺院、西明寺。その真髄と変遷について、住職は時間を惜しむことなく丁寧に、じっくりと、静かな優しさをもって語ってくれた。

The lush moss carpet spreads forever. It's a spectacular sight as if the emeralds shine in the sunlight. The nationally designated scenic spot "Horai Garden" is an Enshu style garden with azaleas trimmings and garden stones arranged on an artificial hill that makes use of the slopes, centered on “Shinji Pond”, the pond with Tsurushima and Kameshima floating. On the slope behind, the three Buddhist deities of the principal idol, “Bhaisajyaguru Buddha (Yakushi Nyorai)”, “Suryaprabha Bodhisattva (Nikko Bosatsu)”, and “Cadraprabha Bodhisattva (Gakko Bosatsu)”, and the stonework that resembles 12 gods are arranged. There a mysterious world spreads out.

青々とした苔の絨毯がどこまでも広がる。それは、太陽の光を受けて輝く翠玉のごとく。目を見張る光景だ。国指定名勝の本坊庭園「蓬莱庭」は、心字池を中心に、斜面を活かした築山にサツキの刈込みと庭石を配した遠州流庭園。鶴島や亀島を浮かべた心字池。背後の斜面には御本尊の薬師如来、日光菩薩、月光菩薩の三尊仏や、12神将に見立てた石組が配され、幽玄なる世界が広がる。

The approach leading to the main hall. There used to be monks lined up on both sides.
Under the influence of Mt. Hiei in the Middle Ages, it became a prosperous dojo for the Tendai sect, and at that time there were more than 300 monks in the precincts.

本堂へと続く参道。かつてはこの両側に僧坊が建ち並んでいたとか。
中世には比叡山の影響下、天台宗の道場として隆盛を極め、当時は境内に300以上もの僧坊がひしめいていたという。

Towering along the approach is a 1000-year-old cedar tree. It is called "Meotosugi"(Couple's cedar) because the two trees that were originally apart are now close together and grow together. It has been popular as a sacred tree that brings good relations, marital harmony, childbirth, and easy delivery.

参道の途中にそびえ立つのは、樹齢約1000年の杉の木。元々2本であった木が寄り添い一つになって、共に育っていることから「夫婦杉」と呼ばれている。良縁、夫婦和合、子授け、安産の霊木として親しまれてきた。

Climbing the stone steps and passing through the “Nitenmon Gate”, which was built in the early Kamakura period, reveals the majestic stance of the main hall designated as a national treasure. It was built by the craftsmen from Hida without using any nails. The roof has a very elegant appearance that is representative of the Kamakura period.

石段を登り、鎌倉時代初期建造の二天門をくぐると、国宝指定の本堂が堂々たる構えを顕にする。飛騨の匠が釘を一本も使用しないで建てたものだとか。屋根は桧皮葺、蟇股(かえるまた)、吹き寄せ葺格子欄間など、鎌倉時代を代表する純和風の実に雅やかな佇まい。

On the right side of the main hall, there is a three-storied pagoda, also made by the craftsmen from Hida. On one side of the first floor, you can see beautifully colored paintings that you can't imagine in this world. Paintings by Kose school painters include Lotus Sutra, Eight Dragon Kings, 32 Bodhisattvas, and Flowers and Birds. There is no other mural painting in such a good condition from the Kamakura period, which is extremely valuable.

本堂の右手には、同じく飛騨の匠による総桧の三重塔がそびえる。一層には一面に、この世のものとは思えない程美しい極彩色の絵が現れる。巨勢派の絵師による、法華経の絵説き、八大龍王、三十二菩薩、花鳥など。鎌倉時代のものでこれほど状態の良い壁画は他に無く、非常に貴重だ。

When Mt. Hiei was burned down by Nobunaga Oda, Saimyo-ji was also burned down and the precincts were engulfed in flames. At this time, the monks were smart and burned the buildings near the main hall more violently, pretending that the entire precincts were on fire. As a result, the main hall, the three-storied pagoda, and the “Nitenmon Gate” were able to prevent their burning.
I would like to express my respect to the many monks and the gentle priests who have carefully protected such precious cultural properties.

織田信長により比叡山が焼き払われると、西明寺もまた他の湖東三山と同様焼き討ちに遭い、境内は炎に包まれた。この時僧侶が機転を利かせ、沢山の焚き木を積んで、境内全てが炎上したかのように見せかけた。これにより、本堂、三重塔、二天門は見事その焼失を防ぐことができたという。
これだけの文化財を大切に守り抜いてきた数々の僧侶達、そして優しい住職に尊崇の念を表したい。

about this venue

Saimyo-ji Temple
西明寺

A temple of the Tendai sect that is one of Koto Sanzan (the three temples of Koto). It is said that during the Heian period, Sanshu Shonin opened the temple at the request of Emperor Ninmyo. It was desolate due to fire during the Warring States period, but was revived by Yukan Mochizuki in the middle of the Edo period.

Cultural property designated by the prefecture:
Seated wooden statue of Mahavairocana, Gilded box with peacock decoration

Location: 26 Ikedera, Koura-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture
Phone: 0749384008

湖東三山の一つに数えられる天台宗の寺院。平安時代、仁明(にんみょう)天皇の勅願により三修上人が開山したと伝えられる。戦国時代には兵火のため荒れ果ててしまったが、江戸時代中期に望月友閑(もちづきゆうかん)によって再興された。

<国宝>本堂 三重塔
<重文>木造薬師如来立像 木造釈迦如来立像 木造不動明王および二童子像(3躯) 木造二天王立像、絹本著色十二天画像 錦幡 石像宝塔 二天門
<史跡・名勝>西明寺本坊庭園
<県指定>木造十二神将 木造二天王立像 絹本着色文珠菩薩像 唐櫃 法華経板木 紺紙金地蘇悉地羯羅供養法巻上 金銅錫枕頭 金銅密教法具 木造大日如来坐像 鍍金孔雀文説相筥
<県指定天然記念物>西明寺不断桜

所在地: 滋賀県犬上郡甲良町池寺26
電話: 0749-38-4008