ちょっと長浜まで（１）木之本地蔵院　　Let’s go to Nagahama! #1: Kinomoto Jizoin

　長浜市街地から電車で北陸方面に向かうと、両側に山が迫ってきて、街道筋の雰囲気が出てきます。木之本は江戸時代に賑わった北国街道の宿（しゅく）の一つで、その街道沿いにある木之本地蔵院には、木ノ本駅から石畳の道を5分ほどたどると着きます。

As the train goes forward from the downtown of Nagahama to Hokuriku area, multiple mountains are approaching us through both windows, which reminds me that I am along an old walking route which many people have tracked. Kinomoto is a popular post station on the Hokkoku Kaido, one of the old travel routes developed in the Edo era (1603 - 1868). Kinomoto Jizoin is close to the train station, within the walking distance (in five minutes); the street, covered by flat stones, guides us to this traditional Japanese temple.

　お地蔵さんというと、路肩にある数十センチの高さののどかな石像を思い浮かべますが、木之本地蔵院の本尊は、目の病気を治してくれるという秘仏である所以や、それを模した屋外のお地蔵さんの巨大さから、畏敬の念を呼び起こすものです。しかし、同時に、路肩のお地蔵さんと同じような親しみが自然と湧いてくるのが不思議。人の営みの様子が垣間見える庫裡の様子からも、今につながる神聖かつ生き生きとした木之本地蔵院の息遣いを感じました。

Jizo is a very popular Japanese holy stone statue, with height of several tens of centimeters and installed on one street side; this scene is quite familiar to our Japanese. However, the central Buddha in this temple, Jizo with its empowerment, is alleged to cure eye troubles, and its giant copy, which is several meters high, stands outside the temple building; visitors are in awe. However, simultaneously, we can sense the similar relief and love to those that we feel on street Jizo statues; such synchronous harmony between awe and love is unlikely, but certainly exists. Together with a footage of temple monks in their daily life, I enjoyed this visit, in tough with lasting and active holy being.

門前からの木之本地蔵院。石段を上ると本堂、そして右手に屋外の大きなお地蔵様。Kinomoto Jizo-In, from its gate side. Following stone stairs, we encounter the main building, while the giant Jizo statue is installed on the right-hand side.