地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Yasha Jindō

The figures inside these two small structures originally stood guard at either side of the temple’s south gate. The statues were moved inside the temple grounds after a legend arose that people who passed by the gate without paying due respect to these deities became cursed with misfortunes. They were moved to their current location in 1596.

The statues are said to have been carved by Kūkai (774–835), the great Buddhist teacher and abbot of Tōji. They are popularly known as yasha, or guardian spirits. The yasha on the east side is male, and the one to the west is female. Thought to be incarnations of the deities Monju Bosatsu and Kokūzō Bosatsu, they are both known for their wisdom. Despite their reputation for throwing curses, in another tradition these yasha have the power to relieve toothaches.

夜叉神堂

原本守望於南大門左右兩側的神像，據說會對過門不拜者施以懲戒。神像於1596年遷移，現已被供奉於兩座小佛堂內。

偉大佛教領袖——空海大師（774-835）曾經擔任東寺「別當（寺務統籌）」一職，而此夜叉像正出自他手筆。公、母夜叉分別位於其東西兩側，是司掌智慧之佛文殊菩薩、虛空藏菩薩的化身，亦是佛教的守護神。據說夜叉會施降詛咒，亦可醫治牙痛。

夜叉神堂

两座小佛堂内供奉的神像，原本守望于南大门左右两侧，据说若有过门不拜者，则对其施以惩戒。直到1596年，才迁移至此。

此夜叉像，由曾经担任东寺“别当”（寺务统筹）一职的伟大佛教领袖空海大师（774-835）所雕刻。东西两侧分别为公、母夜叉，是司掌智慧之佛文殊菩萨、虚空藏菩萨的化身，亦是佛教的守护神。据说夜叉会施降诅咒，亦可医治牙痛。