地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Enkanchi Pond and Bezaitendo

Enkanchi Pond is a reservoir with stone walls located immediately outside Shuri Castle’s northern wall. Constructed in 1502, it is part of a gravity-fed system designed to collect water from natural fresh water sources at the castle and transport it to the Ryutan Pond below. Enkanchi was integrated into a complex of Buddhist architecture that included the adjacent Enkakuji Temple.

Bezaitendo

The small island constructed on one side of the pond is the site of Bezaitendo, a small Buddhist temple hall. It was initially built to house a set of important Buddhist sutra scrolls that were presented by a Korean king in the mid-fifteenth century. The original structure and the scrolls were lost in 1609 during the invasion by the Satsuma domain of Kyushu. A statue of the protective female deity Benzaiten, previously housed at nearby Enkakuji Temple, was installed when the temple was reconstructed in 1621, and the hall was rededicated to her. This statue was replaced by one sent from Satsuma in 1685. Made of unpainted wood and devoid of decoration, the simple, strongly geometric hall’s harmonious relationship with its environment is a marked characteristic of Ryukyuan architecture.

Tennyobashi Bridge

The island on which Bezaitendo stands is connected to the nearby shore by a picturesque high-arched bridge of Ryukyuan limestone called Tennyobashi (originally Kanrenbashi) Bridge. Based on bridge designs found in southern China, Tennyobashi has a balustrade intricately carved with lotus blossoms and design details that emulate wooden bridge construction. It is one of several architectural monuments in Shuri that illuminate the vital cultural and aesthetic interchange between China and the Ryukyu Islands. An additional arched bridge called Ryuenkyo, roughly contemporaneous with Tennyobashi, spans a water outlet in the stone wall between Enkanchi and Ryutan. Although Bezaitendo was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Tennyobashi suffered less damage. Both were restored in 1969.

圓鑑池和弁財天堂

圓鑑池毗鄰首里城北牆外，是個石壁蓄水池。水池建於1502年，原本是首里城重力供水系統的一部分，用於儲蓄出自城內的天然淡水，並為下方的「龍潭」供水。水池和圓覺寺等周邊的佛教建築群完美融合，儼然一體。

弁財天堂

靠圓鑑池一側的人工小島就是弁財天堂的所在地。弁財天堂是一座小佛堂，因供奉弁財天女而得名。但最初是為供奉15世紀中期朝鮮半島第7代國王世祖李瑈贈送的高麗版《大藏經》而建。1609年，九州薩摩藩入侵琉球，佛堂和佛經一同被毀。1621年，佛堂重建，轉而供奉原本供於附近圓覺寺中的守護女神——弁財天女神像。如今我們看到的天女像來自薩摩藩，於1685年迎請入堂，。弁財天堂為原木所建，不事雕琢漆彩，樸素簡明，充滿強烈的幾何感，與周圍環境和諧融洽，這也是琉球建築的典型特徵之一。

天女橋

一座漂亮的高拱石橋將弁財天堂所在的小島與鄰近的水岸連接起來，這就是「天女橋」（原名「觀蓮橋」）。天女橋以琉球石灰岩修築，整體造型設計取自中國南方水鄉常見的單拱石橋風格。橋欄杆上雕刻著錯落的蓮花，另有許多模仿木橋結構的設計細節。天女橋是首里地區幾處建築傑作之一，體現了中國與琉球群島之間不容忽視的文化與美學交流。此外，連接圓鑑池與龍潭池壁的水道上也有一座拱橋，名「龍淵橋」，據推測與天女橋建於同一時期。比起在1945年沖繩島戰役中被毀的弁財天堂來，天女橋更幸運一些，受損較小。兩者均於1969年完成重建，天女橋在1972年被指定為國家重要文化財產。

圆鉴池和弁财天堂

圆鉴池毗邻首里城北墙外，是个石壁蓄水池。水池建于1502年，原本是城堡重力供水系统的一部分，用于储蓄出自城堡内的天然淡水，同时为下方的“龙潭”供水。水池与圆觉寺等周边的佛教建筑群完美融合，俨然一体。

弁财天堂

弁财天堂是一座小佛堂，建在圆鉴池一侧的人工小岛上，因供奉弁财天女而得名。但最初，它是为供奉15世纪中期朝鲜半岛第7代国王世祖李瑈赠送的高丽版《大藏经》而建。1609年，九州萨摩藩入侵琉球，佛堂和佛经一同被毁。1621年佛堂重建后，转而供奉守护女神——弁财天女神像，该佛像原本供于附近的圆觉寺。如今的天女神像来自萨摩藩，于1685年被迎请入堂。弁财天堂为原木所建，不事彩绘装饰，朴素简明，几何感强烈，与周围环境和谐融洽，这也是琉球建筑的典型特征之一。

天女桥

一座漂亮的高拱石桥将弁财天堂所在的小岛与邻近的水岸连接起来，这就是“天女桥”（原名“观莲桥”）。天女桥以琉球石灰岩修筑，整体造型设计取自中国南方水乡常见的单拱石桥风格。桥栏杆上雕刻着错落的莲花，另有许多模仿木桥结构的设计细节。它是首里地区几处建筑杰作之一，体现了中国与琉球群岛之间不容忽视的文化与美学交流。此外，连接圆鉴池与龙潭池壁的水道上也有一座拱桥，名叫“龙渊桥”，据推测与天女桥建于同一时期。比起在1945年冲绳岛战役中被毁的弁财天堂来，天女桥更幸运一些，受损较小。两者均在1969年完成重建，天女桥在1972年被指定为国家重要文化财产。