「駒形堂」
Do you know about Japanese temples? Komagatado Hall stands on the sacred site where Sensoji Temple originated. At 4T-AMKY, Teachers and Students write about Japanese culture, food, history, many spots to visit, and other stuff. Enjoy reading and knowing about deeper Japanese culture!
Komagatado Hall
One of the Sensoji Temple complexes
Komagatado Hall is located at the foot of Komagata Bridge over Sumida River which flows through Tokyo.
It is said that the hall was built in 628 (March 18, 36th year of Emperor Suiko) on the site where brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Takenari found a Buddha statue caught in a net while fishing in Edoura (present Sumida River) and brought it ashore.
That Buddha statue is the principal image of Sensoji Temple, the Bodhisattva Sho-Kanzeon. It is said that in 942, when TAIRA no Kinmasa rebuilt the temple complex of Kinryuzan Sensoji Temple, which had been devastated by the TAIRA no Masakado’s War, he built Komagatado Hall together with the temple.
The principal image of Komagatado Hall is Bodhisattva Bato Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy who saves all living things. In the Edo era (1603-1867), there was a landing place just in front of Komagatado Hall, and people who landed there worshipped the principal image of Komagatado Hall first before visiting Sensoji Temple.
The hall was originally built facing the river, but was rebuilt several times to face south. It was rebuilt in the same form each time it was repeatedly destroyed by fire, and the current hall was built in 2003 (Heisei 15).
A “Kaisatsuhi” (monument to the precepts of killing) stands in the precincts of the temple. It is a tangible cultural property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. During the reign of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the fifth Shogun known for his decree of mercy for all living creatures, a decree was issued that the sacred place where the principal image of Sensoji Temple appeared was forbidden to kill fish and birds.
Komagatado Hall is a beautiful vermilion-lacquered hall. The precincts of Komagatado Hall are open to the public as Komagata Park. In spring, the dark pink double-flowered cherry blossoms were very beautiful. Whenever I went to Asakusa, I would pass through the Kaminarimon gate, enjoy Nakamise street, and visit Sensoji temple. However, from now on, I will follow the old custom and visit Komagatado Hall first before heading to Sensoji Temple.
「駒形堂」
浅草寺の伽藍の一つ
駒形堂は都内を流れる隅田川にかかる駒形橋のたもとにあります。
628年（推古天皇36年3月18日）に、檜前浜成(ひのくまはまなり)・竹成(たけなり)兄弟が江戸浦(現在の隅田川)で漁をしている時に、仏像が網にかかっているのを発見し、その仏像を持って上陸した地に建てられたお堂だということです。
その仏像は浅草寺のご本尊の聖観世音菩薩さまです。そして942年に、平公雅（たいらのきんまさ）が、将門の乱によって荒廃していた金龍山浅草寺の伽藍を再建した際に一緒に駒形堂を建てたと伝えられています。
駒形堂のご本尊はすべての生類を救う馬頭観世音菩薩です。江戸時代は駒形堂のすぐ前に船着き場があり、ここから上陸した人びとはまず駒形堂のご本尊を拝んでから浅草寺に参拝したそうです。
お堂は、はじめは川に向けて建てられていましたが、何度か再建され南向きとなりました。火災焼失を繰り返す度に同じ形で再建され、現在のお堂は2003年（平成15年）に建立されたものです。
境内には「戒殺碑」（かいさつひ）が立っています。都指定有形文化財です。元禄５年（1692）生類憐みの令で知られる五代将軍綱吉の時代に、浅草寺本尊が現れた霊地を魚鳥殺生禁断の地とする法度が出されました。
駒形堂は朱塗りのきれいなお堂です。駒形堂の境内は駒形公園として開放されています。春には濃いピンクの八重桜が咲いてとてもきれいでした。私が浅草へ行くときは、雷門をくぐり仲見世通りを楽しみながら浅草寺へお参りする、というのが常でしたが、これからは昔の風習に倣って、まず駒形堂へお参りしてから浅草寺へ向かうことにしようと思います。
Ikuyo.K.
