地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Inside the Lecture Hall: A Three-dimensional Mandala

The Lecture Hall is not only a place to hear sermons and chant mantras; the building itself is designed to be a tool for meditation. The 21 statues inside are arranged to form a three-dimensional mandala, a depiction of the sacred cosmology of esoteric Buddhism.

Of the 21 statues in the hall, 15 were created in the early ninth century. According to tradition, the statues were designed by Kūkai (774–835) while he was abbot of Tōji and were installed in the hall in 839. The remaining six are replacements created after the Lecture Hall’s reconstruction in 1491. All the statues are made of wood and lacquer, and most are decorated with gold leaf.

The figures are arranged in groups. There are three groups of five deities surrounded by six additional deities. At the center of the dais are the Five Great Buddhas (Gochi Nyorai), fully enlightened beings who occupy the highest rank of the Japanese Buddhist pantheon. To the east of the Buddhas are the Five Great Bodhisattvas (Godai Bosatsu), compassionate deities who help humans achieve enlightenment. To the west are the ferocious-looking Five Wisdom Kings (Godai Myō-ō), chastisers of the wicked and discipliners of the faithful. At each corner of the dais is one of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō), who protect the four directions. The two attendants of the Buddha who stand to either side, Bonten and Taishakuten, are Hindu gods incorporated into Buddhist mythology. The deva Bonten is on the eastern side, while the deva Taishakuten stands on the western side.

講堂內部：立體曼荼羅

講堂之內不僅可以傾聽佛法，也可以詠誦真言；而其建築，更是專為禪定而設——堂內置有佛像21尊，以立體曼荼羅形式佈局，從而呈現密宗的神聖宇宙觀。

21尊佛像中，有15尊誕生於9世紀初，據說為空海（774–835）擔任東寺「別當（寺務統籌）｣一職時所刻，自839年即供於堂內；其餘6尊，則是1491年講堂重建後的彷製品。佛像皆為塗漆木雕，且幾乎悉數飾以金箔。

21尊佛像共分為4組——五智如來位於須彌壇中央；東側是五大菩薩；西側為五大明王；四隅則由四大天王各守一方，與屹立於東西的梵天、帝釋天並稱六尊。

讲堂内部：立体曼荼罗

讲堂之内，可聆听佛法，能咏诵真言；而其建筑，更是专为禅定（坐禅）而设——堂内置有佛像21尊，以立体曼荼罗形式布局，呈现密宗的神圣宇宙观。

21尊佛像中有15尊诞生于9世纪初，据说为空海（774–835）任东寺“别当”（寺务统筹）一职时所刻，自839年即供于堂内；其余6尊，是1491年讲堂重建后仿制而成。佛像皆为涂漆木雕，且几乎悉数饰以金箔。

21尊佛像分为4组。五智如来坐镇须弥坛中央；东侧是五大菩萨；西端为五大明王；四隅则由四大天王各守一方，与傲立东西的梵天、帝释天合称六尊。