地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Statue of Tamonten

Tamonten is the most powerful of the Four Heavenly Kings, who each take a cardinal direction in guarding the world against evil influences. This image of Tamonten exudes a determined calm, a trademark of Buddhist statuary from the Heian period (794–1185). He stands holding a wish-granting jewel in his left hand and a Chinese-style halberd in his right. The jewel represents Tamonten‘s ability to grant material wishes, and the spear symbolizes his fervent determination to guard against evil and protect the Buddhist faith.

Like the statue of Amida Nyorai, the body of this statue is carved from a single piece of wood. This differs from other statues around the temple, which were made by the assembled-block construction technique (yosegi-zukuri) that emerged in Japan during the latter half of the tenth century. The statue, imposing enough on its own, likely once stood as part of an assembly of all four Heavenly Kings as attendants to Amida, Buddha of the Western Paradise, in the temple‘s main hall. Alongside Tamonten, protector of the north, would have been Jikokuten, who guards the east; Zochoten, who guards the south; and Komokuten, who guards the west.

多聞天王立像（重要文化財）

四大天王中，屬多聞天王最為強大。每位天王皆負責管理天下不同地點，保護當地不受邪惡侵犯。代表四大天王之一的多聞天王像，不怒自威。此種神態是平安時代（794-1185）佛像的特徵。多聞天王左手持滿足眾生意願的如意寶珠，右手持戟。寶珠象徵多聞天王的能力，可完成毫不空泛的實際願望；戟則象徵多聞天王致力於守護佛教的強烈意志，能鏟姦除惡。

與阿彌陀佛如來像相同，此雕像亦採用單塊木頭雕成，而仁和寺的其他佛像則採用10世紀後半葉日本廣為流行的木材拼接方式雕成。多聞天王獨自一尊，已足以氣勢凜凜，不過祂或許曾經與其他3位天王同處仁和寺本堂，擔當西方淨土佛陀——阿彌陀佛如來的護法神。除了護持北方的多聞天王外，當時應亦供奉有護持東方的持國天王、護持南方的增長天王，以及護持西方的廣目天王。

多闻天王立像（重要文化财）

多闻天王在四大天王中最为强大。每位天王皆负责管理天下不同方位，保护当地不受邪恶侵犯。四大天王之一的多闻天王像，不怒自威。这种神态是平安时代（794-1185）佛像的特征。多闻天王左手持满足众生意愿的如意宝珠，右手持戟。宝珠代表多闻天王的能力，可完成毫不空泛的实际愿望；戟则象征多闻天王致力于守护佛教的强烈意志，能铲奸除恶。

与阿弥陀佛如来像相同，此雕像也采用整木雕成，而仁和寺的其他佛像则采用10世纪后半叶日本广为流行的拼木方式雕成。多闻天王虽独自一尊，凛凛气势却丝毫不减。他或许曾经与其他3位天王同处仁和寺本堂，担当西方净土佛陀——阿弥陀佛如来的护法神。除了护持北方的多闻天王外，当时应还供奉着护持东方的持国天王、护持南方的增长天王，以及护持西方的广目天王。