旧博多区にある、神社仏閣について、いろいろと英語で説明をしています。

1 お寺を中心に GG22会の河部さんの説明を基に英文を作成しています

1 幻住庵

Genjuan Temple was founded by a Buddhist priest Mugen Genkai in 1336.  The original temple was located in today’s Maedashi in East Ward of Fukuoka City, but it was destroyed by some fires caused by battles from 1573 to 1591.  The temple was rebuilt in the present place by Oga Sohoku, a son of a wealthy merchant in Hakata, in 1646.   The graves of them are in the cemetery.  Master Sengai in Shoufukuji Temple spent his quiet days after being retired in the hut named “Kohakuin” in this temple.

2 本岳寺

Hongakuji Temple (本岳寺) originally belonged to a Zen sect (under the kanji name of 本覚寺).  At the end of the 15th century, the chief monk changed it to the Nichiren sect, because, although he was a good player of Go, he lost the game of Go on which he bet his temple with a master monk of the Nichiren sect named Nichiin, who had come to Hakata from Kyoto.  There are no other temples in Hakata that have changed sects.

3 妙典寺園

Myotenji Temple was the Nichiren temple that was first founded in today’s Yanagawa in 1381.  Later, being relocated, it got to be the family temple for the Tachibana family in the Kuroda clan.  In the early 17th century, a religious debate was held in this temple between Nichi-chyu a high monk here and a Christian missionary.  Nichi-chyu won the debate and for the memory of this victory, it is said, a new temple was built in today’s Center Ward and named “Syou-ritu-ji.”  (‘Syou’ means ‘victory’ and ‘ritu’ means “build”.)

4 濡衣塚

Nureginu-zuka is a monument in memory of a sad story from which a phrase ‘Nureginu’ came from.  Nureginu literally meaning ‘wet kimono’ is used to mean ‘false accusation.’  A girl, who was beautiful, made her stepmother very jealous. The stepmother had some fisherman falsely appeal to her husband, the province governor in Chikuzen, about the thefts done by his daughter.  He checked his daughter while she was sleeping and noticed wet kimono placed near her.  He thought the accusation was right and killed her daughter, ignoring what she said.  

5 石堂橋

Later, the daughter in the story of Nureginu appeared in her father’s dream and claimed she was innocent.  Finally, he came to know he had been wrong, and to appease her soul she built seven stone monuments ‘Ishizuka.’   This Ishido Bridge is said to have been named after this ‘Ishizuka.’  Ishido means ‘Ishizuka.”

6 海元寺

Kaigenji is a Jodo-sect temple which was founded in 1396.  There are two sacred halls in the precinct, ‘Enma-dou’ and ‘Kannnon-dou’ (rebuilt in 2016).  In Enma-dou are placed the statues of Enma-Daio, the ruler of Hell, and Datueba, an old woman stripping the dead person of his/her kimono in crossing the Styx River.  At Enma Festivals held twice a year, the visitors offer konjac to the Datueva statue to pray for getting rid of Aku in disease.  (Get rid of Aku is normally used for cooking.  It means getting rid of pieces with bad taste out of a soup.  Konjac required getting rid of Aku to be made.)  Katueva is affectively called ‘Konnyaku-Basan,’ konjac old lady. 

7 選擇寺

Senchakuji was founded in the mid 16th century as a Jodo sect temple.  Senchaku, whose meaning few people know now, means ‘driving away the bad and choosing the good.’  In the Edo period, a red-light district was near this temple, and about 580 prostitutes were buried as Muenbotoke.  (Muenbotoke is a dead person who has no one to take care of its funeral.

8 本興寺

Honkoji Temple belongs to the Nichiren sect.  It enshrines Daikokuten God.  In the late 16th century, a wealthy merchant from Hakata, Sotatu Kamiya, was almost involved in Honnoji Incident while being invited to the tea ceremony hosted by Nobunaga Oda.  But in his dream, Daikokuten God appeared and advised him to leave, and he managed to return to Hakata.  To express his gratitude, he offered its statue to this temple.  Daikokuten is the God of business prosperity.  

9 光安青霞 

Mitsuyasu Seikaen was founded in 1716.  This shop, with over 300 year history, sells tea leaves and other products made from tea. 

10 聖福寺 Shogukuji Temple: This was founded by Master Monk Eisai, who was one of the two major Zen sect founders in Japan,  It is a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect Eisai began and, it was the first Zen temple in Japan.  Zen refers to one Buddhism group whose aim is to pursue the truth by concentration of mind, especially sitting meditation.  Besides Zen teachings, Eisai brought back to Japan, first to this place, the seeds of tea plants as well as the ways to grow tea plants and the manners of drinking tea.  This temple is thought to be the tea origin place in Japan.  The main hall is impressive, designated as a National Cultural Monument.

2 上記項目の補足説明

1  山門  

San-mon: Gates to temples are often called “San-mon.”  San-mon literally means “Mountain Gate.”  It may sound strange because most of the temples are not in the mountain area.  This unsuitable name comes from the fact that the temples were built in the mountain in Ancient China, from which Buddhism came to Japan. 

2  墓石  

Grave Stone: There are a lot of types of stone used for graves, and the most popular stone for graves is white granite, “mikage-ishi.”  Gray, black and white elements of stone are mixed in complicated patterns.  

3  博多商人  

Hakata Merchants: From the Muromachi Period to the early Edo period, Hakata was a very important port for international trades, especially to China.  There were very wealthy merchant families in Hakata.  One of the greatest Hakata Syonin was Sotan Kamiya.   He contributed to the country unification of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.  After the beginning of the Edo period, Hakata developed as a castle town, but as an important port town, it was taken over by Nagasaki and Hirado.  

4  納骨堂  

Nokotu-do: The hall for remains of the dead.  Like a locker room.  

5  出光佐三  

Sazo Idemitu: A great entrepreneur who built up Idemitu Oil Company.  He was born and started his business in Fukuoka.  He contributed a lot to the local community.   Munakata City has his birthplace residence and museum. 

6  囲碁  

Game of Go: It was introduced from China in ancient times.  It is still popular now.  It is a game of taking the territory by putting a stone piece on the board.  The rules are simple, but the strategies are really complicated.   

7  閻魔  

Enma-Daio: One Buddhism God.  Enma is the king of Hell, judging the good or bad of the dead person.  The face of the statue is angry and red.  His mouth is open, and his eyebrows are raised.  A wooden board in a hand. 

8  赤線  

Red Light District: Prostitute district.  It came from the fact that the police drew the border of the district with red lines.  It was abolished by the regulation in the 1950s.       

9  無縁仏  

Muen-botoke: When one dies, we say “he became hotoke.”  It seems we can become a hotoke, Buddha when we die.  Muen refers to the situation where there is nobody to take care of the dead man’s funeral or grave.  The temples take care of those people as a whole.  

10 大黒天  

Daikokuten God: One of Seven Lucky Gods.  The God of commerce, agriculture, and prosperity (The country of origin is India) wearing a hood, holding a wooden hammer in the right hand, carrying a big bag on the left shoulder, and sitting on a rice bale 

11 唐津街道  Karatsu Road: The main road in Fukuoka Province in the Edo period from Kokura, via Fukuoka and Karatsu, to Hirado. 

3 櫛田神社について

1  櫛田神社について

Kushida Shrine is one of what is called Power Spot. It is the head temple of the guardian deity in Hakata with the history of more than 1250 years.  The local people call it with some affection “O-Kushida-San” closely meaning “Mr. Kushida.” Once it was burned down by the fire caused by a battle in the Civil War period, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi rebuilt it with his money, hoping to revitalize the city of Hakata. You may think it is rather small, but, as there are more things worth watching than you have expected, you will be overwhelmed while walking around there.

2  御利益

The gods and their powers of answering prayers The main answering powers are business success and longevity.  Three gods are enshrined in this shrine. When you throw your praying money into the coin box, watch the inside building over the box carefully. You will see three separate rooms enshrining the deity. One altar is placed with one God.  This shows how much the local people in Hakata worship the three gods. Interestingly enough, each god has its own special power and its worshipped role in a different Hakata festival! This also shows how much the locals like festivals.

3  中殿:大幡主命(おおはたぬしのみこと)

The alter in the center for the God Oohatanussino Mikoto, who has the power to throw away the evils.  It is the god for Hakata Setsubun Festival held on Setsubun day in Feburary.  (Setsubuin is the first days of the new seasons in the Old Calendar.)

4  右殿:須佐之男命(すさのおのみこと)

The alter in the right for the God Susanoono Mikoto, who has the power to throw away the calamites.  It is the god for Hakata Gion Yamagasa held from 1st July to 15th July.  This festival is well known nationwide.

5  左殿:天照大御神(あまてらすのおおみかみ)

The alter in the left for the Goddess Amaterasu Oomikami, who has the power to give thanks to the rich harvest in autumn.  It is the goddess for Hakata Okunchi Festival held on 23rd and 24th October.  (Okunnchi, literally meaning the 9th day, is the first day of the new autumn in the Old Calendar, when the praying ritual for rich harvest is held.)

6  干支恵方盤(えとえほうばん)

Under the ceiling of the main gate, you see the zodiac signs in every 12 directions and the needle in the center pointing to one direction.  This direction is the luckiest direction of the year, as you face it when you eat Eho Rolled sushi on Setsubun day.   It is very unique to show the sign of the luckiest direction in the ceiling which few people notice when going through.

7  霊泉鶴の井戸

From under the main pavilion springs some water, but this is salty sea water.  It is said this place here was surrounded by the sea water.  This water, coming from under the holy place, has been thought the water of longevity, good to drink.  Now, it cannot be drunk.

8  風神・雷神

The left one is Thunder God, who is trying to do a practical joke of making rain and wind attack Hakata.  To this, Wind God in the right is doing Akachokobe.   This is the Hakata Daialect of Akanbe (a gesture of pulling one eye lid and sticking the tongue, showing the mocking attitude like blowing a raspberry).” This pair of Wind God and Thunder God is common among the Shinto shrine circle, but this pair is an outstandingly humorous one.  This is showing how humorous Hakata people are.

9  博多べい

“To help revitalize Hakata burned out by the battles, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the walls by putting the stones and roof tiles gathered in the burnt fields into them.  Hakata Bei here was relocated from the remains of the house of Torii Munesiro, one of the three major merchants in Hakata.  The stones and tiles may have been used because of the lack of proper building materials, but it shows us the wish at that time to revive Hakata Town by making the walls.”

10  櫛田のぎなん

This tree is said to be more than one thousand years old.  Ginan comes from the word Gin-nan meaning ginkgo tree.  This has been taken good care of.   This has been considered a symbol of longevity.

11  博多祇園山笠

When you think of Hakata festivals, you will think of Yamagasa Festival first.  This kind of floats are displayed within the city from July 1 to July 14 until far into the night.  Kushida Shrine is the goal place for Float Rushing Time Race in Yamagasa Festival.  You have to refer to this shrine whenever you talk about Yamagasa Festival.   Shrines have an important role to get connected with the local community.

4 東長寺について

1   東長寺について

Toucho Temple, the place of Fukuoka Daibutu, is the head temple of the religious group Kyusyu of Singon Sect.  It was founded by the Buddhism icon Kukai in 806 ( the first year of Daido) and the first temple of the esoteric Singon Sect and the oldest holy place in Japan. It is said the name came from the wish that the teachings of the Singon Sect would spread eastward and long.

2   福岡大仏

The Big Buddha in Toucho Temple was built after four years’ construction beginning in 1988 (the 63rd year of Syowa).  It is 10.8 meters high and 30 tons heavy, made of hinoki cypress wood, representing the sitting figure of Buddha.  It is in the largest class of wooden sitting statues, prestigious enough to worth seeing.  The figure of 108 in its height represents the 108 of human desires causing us to have some physical and mental pains.  The back gives off the golden shining, called “Kouhai,” meaning “light back.”  This also is what we should watch carefully.

3   地獄・極楽めぐり

Soon after you go through the entrance, you will see a very elaborate picture of eight hells.  Going straight along, you will be surrounded with total darkness, where even adults may feel scared.  The handrail installed there is the only help to go through there, just like God is guiding you.  When you go through holding this handrail, in darkness you have a chance to touch “the Ring of Light.”   If you find and touch it, you are guaranteed to go to Heaven.  If not, still going along in the darkness, you will reach the exit and see the picture of Heaven, and the is the end of the walk.  Hell walk is not so long, but when you see the light from the exit, you surely feel relieved.  This is an experience, so it is very popular among the visitors.

4   本堂

The main pavilion is installed with the buddha statues which is said to have been made by Kukai.  These statues enshrined inside the building represents the trip god of Senjukannou, Fudomyo and Kukai.  These three statues are designated as national valuable historic assets.  The main statue of this temple, God with eleven faces and one thousand arms, is also inside this main pavilion.  This is as short as 87 centimeters tall, but it is said to have made in the Heian Period, designated as national valuable cultural assets.  This statue is open to see only on 3rd of February, the day of Setsubun Festival, 25th of June, the Kukai birthday Festival and on 20th of October, the praying day for the prevention of landslides.

5   六角堂

To the left side of the main gate is “Rokkakudo,” that is, a sexton shaped building, which was built in 1842 (the 13rd year of Tenpo).  The merchant in Hakata named Bunngoya Eizou gathered money from the merchants west from Nagoya and had this built by the 8th8 name holder of shrine builder Ito Heizaemon. The roof is thatched with kaya and double-layered.  Now it is designated as municipal cultural assets.

6   黒田家のお墓

For Kuroda Kanbei along with his son and the first lord Nagamasa, Toucho Temple is not the grave place, but Sofuku Temple is. Nagamasa’s son and the second lord Tadayuki, the third Mituyuki and the eighth Harutaka were buried here.  The three tombs are placed to the left of the main pavilion, with Rokakudo at the entrance of this graveyard.  Past Rokakudo, the group of five layered tombstones are lined. Tadayuki in the west side, Mituyuki in the center and Harutaka in the east side.  The Tadayuki’s tomb is said to be the second tallest among individual tombs.  The three grave places remains just as when they were built, designated as municipal historic assets in 1995 (the 7th year of Heisei).

7   大師堂

Next to the five-storied tower is the Grand master shrine dedicated to Grand master Kobo, the founder of Singon Sect.  In front of this shrine is hung a giant Buddhist string of beads.  When you pull and turn this, you can get rid of your bon-no desires.   In doing this, wooden balls fall down one after another and make a big jingling sound.  This experience will make your spirit purified.

8   五重塔

The beautiful five-storied tower to the left of the main pavilion is a construction built all of hinoki cypress woods and completed in the spring of the year 2011 (the 23rg year of Heisei) with the height of 26 meters.  On the roofed top story is Sorin (thrusted metallic pole) named “Kuirn” meaning “Nine Rings.”  One of the rings, the bowl-shaped ring is stored with the pieces of the bones of Buddha which is said to have brought home by Kukai.  The inside of the first story is beautifully decorated with pictures of the Dainichi God (the Sun God) and flowers and birds everywhere surrounding the god.  These are painted by the Japanese painting artist Toriyama Rey.  By the tower you find a cherry tree with falling branches, which is always beautiful, no matter which season it is.  This place is so photogenic.  

9   地蔵堂

Going through the main gate and close to Rokakudo, you will find the 22nd card distribution place of the group of 24 Jizo statues and a small shrine hut for Jizo God.  In this hut is enshrined the Jizo God for longevity, which you should pray to live longer.

5 博多祇園山笠について GG22会の河部さんの説明を基に英文を作成しています

1 博多祇園山笠

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival is the Shinto ritual held in July every year, in which Seven Nagare (meaning “districts”) teams compete the running time to carry their own one-ton heavy floats from Kushida Shrine to Suzaki Town.

2 スケジュール

Hakata Gion Yamakasa is held from July 1 to July 15 for about two weeks.  It begins with the ritual by priests to enshrine the god in every float.  During this time, the float- carriers practice for the race again and again, until the final day of the race competition.  It is truly just a religious ritual, but it is a real competition for the carriers, who try to run for the pride of their Nagare. 

3 流れ

Nagare means the unit of small districts in Hakata area. There are seven Nagare as follows: Ebisu nagare, Daikoku nagare, Doi nagare, Higashi nagare, Nakasu nagare, Nishi nagare and Chiyo nagare.  The float teams run in this order, and every year the honorable first float to run changes in this order, too. 

4 山笠

Yamakasa is the name of floats used for Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. Participants carry the floats on their shoulders.  There are two kinds of Yamakasa, one is “Kaki-yama”(movable for the race) and the other is “Kazariyama”(stationed as decorative attractions). 

5 舁き山

Kakiyama is the running float at the height of 3 meters with the weight of about one ton, racing for about five kilometers around Hakata town.  Seven Kakiyama floats compete the time and speed with each other.  This is the climax of this Yamakasa, held on July 15.

6 飾り山

Kazariyama is the unmovable float decorated with various Hakata dolls and other ornaments on the theme chosen among historical stories or recent animation dramas.  It is 10 to 15 meters high. These floats are displayed at more than 10 locations in Fukuoka City.

7 舁き山を舁く

About 30 participants are always needed to carry one Kakiyama float, so participants take turns in carrying it while running.  It is impossible for every carrier to continue carrying that heavy thing from start to end.  Many people run together around the carriers to replace the roles under the float.

8 櫛田入り 

Kushidairi means the dedication events held at the special venue called “Seidou” for Yamakasa Festival on July 12 and 15.  A flagpole stands in the center of the round space surrounded by the stands with audience.  Every float starts with at one big drum sound as the cue, runs around the flagpole and leaves the shrine. 

9 追い山笠

At 4:59 am on July 15, at the signal of the big drum, Oiyama floats get into Kushida Shrine one by one and run 5 kilometer course in Hakata area to the goal of Suzaki town. Two running time records are measured, one for Kushidairi run and the other for the outside course run.

10 鎮め能

When all the Oiyama floats finish running, the Noh performance called “Shizume Noh” is held to calm down the excited gods at the Noh stage in Kushida Shrine.

11 山笠の起源

Yamakasa started more than 780 years ago. That was when the epidemic spread in Hakata.  A Buddhist priest Shoichi Kokushi of Jotenji temple got on a driven cart, sprinkling holy water and praying to stop the epidemic.

12 昔と今

Originally, the tall Kazariyama floats now only for display, were used as the run floats. In the Meiji era, with the introduction of power lines, in order not to cut off the lines, the run floats were shortened and the tall Kazariyama floats were placed at some spots in Hakata only for display.

13 お汐井とり

On July 1 the members of Nagare on duty (Ebisu nagare this year), on July 9 the members of all the seven Nagare, run to the coast located at the beginning of the pathway leading to Hakozaki Shrine, purify themselves in seawater and gather sand in small baskets, which they carry back and sprinkle around the entrance of their homes to purify them.