平林寺(宝塚)の須弥壇を囲む迫力の四天王像　 A powerful statue of the four heavenly kings surrounding the Shumidan of Heirin-ji Temple

何かをキッカケに人の輪が広がることはよくある。人の輪とおなじように、いままでに知らなかったコトや見たことのないモノと縁がつながり深まることも多々ある。
 
It is often the case that the circle of people expands with something as a chance. As with the circle of people, there are many cases where things that you have never known or things that you have never seen are connected and deepened.

平林寺本堂

 
半月前に、宝塚の「平林寺」で行われた「ひらりんフェスティバル」イベントの運営のお手伝いをしていく中で同寺を訪れることが何度かあった。それまでは全く知らない寺院であったが、それをご縁に関心を寄せている。寺院好きの筆者の琴線に触れたのが本堂の須弥壇である。
 
Half a month ago, I visited the temple several times while helping to manage the "Hirarin Festival" event held at "Hirarin-ji" in Takarazuka. Until then, it was a temple I didn't know at all, but I'm interested in it. It was the Shumidan of the main hall that touched the chords of the author who loves temples.
まず、地方のいち寺院の須弥壇としては大きいほうだと思う。本尊の釈迦如来座像は開帳されていないが、須弥壇を囲むように立派な四天王が安置されている。仏教における四天王とは、「仏様という尊い存在」や「仏教の教え(=仏法)」を悪から守る最強の神様として祀られている。また、守護神という性格に加え、仏様だけでは救いきれない衆生(人々等)にご利益を授け救済をしてくれる福徳神という性格も持つ神様である。
 
First of all, l think it was the largest Shumidan in a local temple. The statue of Shaka Nyorai, the principal priest, has not been opened, but a magnificent four heavenly kings are enshrined around the Shumidan. The four heavenly kings in Buddhism are enshrined as the strongest gods who protect "the precious existence of Buddha" and "the teachings of Buddhism (= Buddhist law)" from evil. In addition to the character of a guardian god, it is also a god of good fortune who gives benefits to the people (people, etc.) who cannot be saved by the Buddha alone.
 
その四天王は、「持国天」、「増長天」、「広目天」、「多聞天」の4仏。これらは、仏像のランクでいうなら、如来、菩薩の次に位置づけられている天部に属する仏像である。そり4仏は東西南北の四方を守り、持国天が東、増長天が西、広目天が南、多聞天が北を守る役割をもっている。
写真にあるように、須弥壇を取り囲むように立っている。眼光鋭く、忿怒相の顔を持つ持国天や増長天、そして手には武器を持つ多聞天などさまざまな様相で仏像が並んでいる。
 
The four heavenly kings are the four Buddhas, "Jikokuten," "Zochoten," "Komokuten," and "Tamonten." In terms of the rank of Buddha statues, these are Buddha statues that belong to the heavens, which are positioned next to the Bodhisattva. Sori 4 Buddha has the role of protecting the north, south, east and west, with Jikokuten protecting the east, Zochoten west, Komokuten south, and Tamonten north.
As you can see in the picture, it stands around the Shumidan. Buddha statues are lined up in various aspects, such as Jikokuten and Zochoten, which have a sharp-eyed face and an angry face, and Tamonten, who has a weapon in his hand.
 
寺院自体は、資料によると飛鳥時代、用明天皇の命で聖徳太子が創建し、平安時代に如一尼(平安時代前期の尼僧)が再興したと記されてある。そして1578年に信長に利用されることを恐れた 荒木村重の反乱に巻き込まれて焼失し、江戸時代に再興されいまに残されている真言宗系の単立の寺院である。本堂の前には弘法大師さんの銅像が東南を向いて立てられている。
一時は三十余坊が甍(いらか)を連ね繁栄していたようだが、現在は塔頭四カ寺（成就院、宝寿院、西光院、成福院）となっている。その四カ寺が新しい時代の、役割をもつ平林寺再興へむけて奮闘されている。
 
According to the materials, the temple itself was built by Prince Shotoku at the behest of Emperor Yomei during the Asuka period, and it is stated that Nyoichi (a nun in the early Heian period) revived during the Heian period. It is a stand-alone temple of the Shingon sect that was revived in the Edo period and has been revived in the Edo period after being caught up in the rebellion of Murashige Araki, who was afraid to be used by Nobunaga in 1578.
A bronze statue of Kobo Daishi stands in front of the main hall facing southeast. At one point, it seems that over thirty temples were prospering in a row, but now it is the four temples (Narujoin, Hojuin, Saikouin, Seifukuin). The four temples are struggling to revive the role of Heirin-ji Temple in a new era.

平林寺本堂

弘法大師像が立つ

持国天像は東方を守る仏像で鋭い眼光で睨み付け、右手に願いをかなえる力を持つ宝珠をもち、左手には剣や鉾をもつ
The Jikokuten statue is a Buddhist statue that protects the east, glaring with a sharp eye, holding a jewel with the power to fulfill wishes in his right hand, and a sword and a hook in his left hand.

持国天像

増長天像は西方を守る役割をもち、右手に金剛杵をもちもう一方の手は腰に手を当てる。持国天像と同じように、顔は忿怒相の顔を持ち武闘派の神将として表現される。
The statue of Zhochoten has the role of protecting the west, holding a sword and a hook in his right hand and his other hand on his waist. Like the statue of Jikokuten, his face has the face of an angry minister and is represented as a warrior priest. 

増長天像

広目天像は右手に筆、左手に巻物をもつのが多い。これらをもつ意味はいろいろ解釈があるようだが、鬼や魔物を監視し、良し悪しを記し帝釈天に報告するためにこれらをもっているといわれている。顔は、他の四天王像と違い、目は見開いて物事を見極めるという役割を表した姿。南方を守る役割をもつ
Komokuten statues often have a brush in their right hand and a scroll in their left hand. There seem to be various interpretations of the meaning of having these, but it is said that they have these to monitor demons and demons, record good and bad, and report to Taishakuten. Unlike other statues of the four heavenly kings, the face shows the role of opening the eyes to see things. Has a role to protect the south 

広目天像

多聞天像は、釈迦の仏舎利(遺骨)を納めた塔を右手に、左手は宝棒か金剛杵という仏教世界の武器をもっているのが一般的。北方を守る神将。甲冑をつけ、両足に悪鬼を踏まえ、手に宝塔と宝珠または鉾を持った姿で表される。

The Tamonten statue generally has a tower containing Shaka's Buddhist priesthood (remains) on the right, and a treasure stick or Kongosho on the left, which is a weapon of the Buddhist world. A priest who protects the north. lt wears an armor, has a demon on his legs, and is represented with a treasure tower and a jewel or hook in his hand.  

多聞天像

リポート&写真/ 渡邉雄二　Reported & Photos by Yuji Watanabe