文化の宝庫、大徳寺の「鳴き龍」もその一つ。 「龍をたずねて―」シリーズⅣ　－大徳寺― 　Visit the Dragon SeriesⅣ

大徳寺は歴史文化の宝庫と言われている。1325年に創建され、釈迦如来を本尊とし700年近くが経つが、応仁の乱ですべてが焼失し荒廃したが、一休宗純禅師(一休さん)の尽力で復興したといわれている。

Daitoku-ji is known for a treasure trove of history and culture. It was founded in 1325, and it has been nearly 700 years since Shakuson-nyorai, or Gautama Buddha was enshrined as a master of the house. It was destroyed by fire, and fell into ruin during the Onin War. However, it is said that it was reconstructed by the effort of Sojyun Ikkuyu Zenshi known as Ikkyu.

安土桃山時代には豊臣秀吉が織田信長の葬儀を、ここ大徳寺で営み、信長の菩提を弔うために総見院を建立。戦国時代の波に大きくかかわったお寺である。貴族、大名、承認、文化人等の幅広い保護をうけ栄えていった。とくに大徳寺は茶の湯の世界にも縁が深く、千利休や小堀遠州をはじめとする多くの茶人が同寺とかかわっていた。

During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi held the funeral for shogun Nobunaga Oda　here at Daitoku-ji and built the grave ”Sokenin” for Nobunaga’s soul and a memorial to him. This temple was greatly involved in the waves of Sengoku period, the age of civil war. The temple was prosperous because it had the support of feudal lords, merchants, and intellectuals. In particular, Daikoku-ji is closely related to the world of tea ceremony, and many tea masters including Sennorikyu and Kobori Enshu were involved in the temple.  

大徳寺本坊は、中国禅宗の建築様式が特徴である。南から勅使門、三門、仏殿、法堂が一直線に並んでいる。それらの奥に庫裡と方丈がある。(ちなみに南禅寺は西から一直線)
方丈建築は通常、南側に3室、北側に3室の計6室から構成されるのが一般的であるが、大徳寺は南側に4室、北側に4室の計8室という珍しい造りになっている。

Daitoku-ji Honbo, the main hall, is characterized by the Chinese Zen style. Chokushimon, Sannmon, Buddhist sanctum and the temple are lined up from the south. Behind them is Hojyo- a warehouse, and a kuri- the kitchen.

The other temple known as Nanzen-ji has them lined up from the west. The structure of Hojo usually consists of six rooms- three rooms on the south side, and three rooms on the north side, while Daitoku-ji has an unusual structure with four rooms on the south side , and four rooms on the north side.

                                大徳寺参道  /  Approach for Daitoku-ji

その大徳寺には二つの天井画がある。一つは釈迦如来像が鎮座されている仏殿の天井に。しかし、その天井画はほぼ剥がれ落ちて見えない状態である。関係者に聞くと、「飛天」が描かれていたという。そう聞いて改めて見ると、そうかなと思える。天から釈迦如来を守り続けているというなら、飛天と納得する。いつの日か仏殿に美しい飛天図が天井を彩るなら、本尊もさぞかし喜ばれることだろう。

Daitoku-ji has two ceiling paintings. One of them is on the ceiling of the house where Buddha statue is enshrined. However, the painting is almost peeled off and cannot be seen. When I asked the staff from the preservation society, they told me there used to be "HIten" painting on the ceiling. It seemed that I was able to see it when I looked at it. It is said that ‘Hiten’ has been protecting the Buddha from heaven, and I believe so. One day, when the beautiful ‘Hiten’ painting is illustrated on the ceiling of the house once again, the master will be delighted.

　剥がれ落ちた飛天図　/  "Hiten", the ceiling painting is almost peeled off

                            通常の飛天図  /  Sample of the Hiten

さて、本題の龍はというと法堂の天井に描かれている。妙心寺同様に狩野探幽が35歳の時に描いた雲龍図だといわれている。天井がゆるいドーム状なっているので、地面の敷瓦の上で手を叩くと、天井の龍も共鳴しズウゥ～ンという音が堂内に響く。そのため「鳴き龍」と呼ばれている。

If you want to see the main dragon, it is painted on the ceiling of the temple. Like Myoushin-ji Temple, it is said that the cloud dragon painted in Daitoku-ji was also painted by Kano Tanyu when he was 35 years old. Since the ceiling has a slightly domed shape, if you pat your hands on the floor tiles, the dragon on the ceiling will resonate in the hall. Thus, this is called ‘Song Dragon’

寺院を訪れると、日常にないいろんなものが見えてくる。寺院を通して、日本の歴史、そしてその時代の文化や人。さらにその証を観ることができる。

When you visit a temple, you’ll find many things that you don't see in everyday life. Through the experiences of temples, you can gain a sense of the history and culture of Japan, and the people of that era. And most importantly, you can see the evidence of their lives.

                       鳴き龍  /  Song Dragon (写真は大徳寺HPから転載)

「龍をたずねてー」は続く。次回は妙心寺。

‘Visit the dragon’ continue. Myoshinn-ji is next.

                                                                              　  レポート/　渡邉雄二

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　             Reported by Yuji Watanabe