地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Chinese Juniper Trees

Between the Sanmon Gate and the Butsuden (Buddha Hall) stand seven giant Chinese juniper trees (Juniperus chinensis). The trees are more than 760 years old and are thought to have been planted by Kenchoji Temple’s founding abbot, Lanxi Daolong (1213–1278).

Daolong was a Chinese Zen master who came to Japan in 1246 to teach Zen Buddhism. He spent his first years in Fukuoka and Kyoto before traveling to Kamakura, where he was invited to head a new Zen temple, Kenchoji, which was completed in 1253.

Legend has it that when Daolong left China, he brought Chinese juniper seeds with him. The trees are native to his hometown in Sichuan Province. Knowing he was unlikely to return to China, Daolong planted saplings from the seeds at Kenchoji as a reminder of his home.

The trees have flourished through the centuries, and are among the few things that remain from the time when the temple was built. They have survived many natural disasters, including the fires that destroyed much of the temple during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The Chinese juniper trees have been listed for preservation by the city of Kamakura.

The largest of the seven trees is 13 meters tall and its trunk is roughly 6.5 meters in circumference. In part because of their presence at Kenchoji, Chinese juniper trees are a common sight at Buddhist temples and are considered a symbol of Zen temples in particular.

道隆手植柏

三門和佛殿之間矗立著七棵巨大粗壯的圓柏（Juniperus Chinensis），這些參天大樹樹齡已有760多歲，被認為是建長寺創始人蘭溪道隆（1213-1278）親手種下。

道隆是中國南宋的禪宗大師，於1246年來到日本傳授禪宗教義，他在福岡和京都度過了初到日本的幾年時光。1253年，鐮倉新建了一座禪寺——建長寺，道隆受邀前往擔任開山住持。

相傳道隆離開中國時，隨身帶著故鄉四川省的圓柏種子，他知道自己不太可能再回到中國，於是在建長寺播種樹苗，以此紀念故鄉。

幾個世紀過去，樹木繁茂如昔。迄今為止，七棵圓柏經歷了許多自然災害，躲過了14、15世紀對寺廟造成毀滅性打擊的火災，是自寺廟初建時留存甚少的「幸運兒」之一。現在它們已被鐮倉市列入保護名單。

七棵圓柏中最大的一株高達13公尺，樹幹周長約6.5公尺，中國圓柏在日本佛教寺廟中很常見，尤其被認為是禪宗寺廟的象徵，一部分原因正是源自建長寺的道隆手植柏。

道隆手植柏

三门和佛殿之间矗立着七棵巨大粗壮的圆柏(Juniperus Chinensis)。这些参天大树已有760多年历史，被认为是建长寺创始人兰溪道隆(1213-1278)亲手所植。

道隆是中国南宋的禅宗大师，于1246年来到日本传授禅宗教义。他在福冈和京都度过了最初的几年时光。1253年，镰仓新建了一座禅寺——建长寺，道隆受邀前往担任开山住持。

相传，道隆离开中国时，随身带着故乡四川省的圆柏种子。他知道自己不太可能再回到中国，于是在建长寺播种树苗，以此纪念故乡。

几个世纪过去，树木繁茂如昔。迄今为止，七棵圆柏经历了众多自然灾害，也躲过了14、15世纪带给寺庙毁灭性打击的火灾，是自寺庙初建时留存甚少的“幸运儿”之一。现在，它们已被镰仓市列入了保护名单。

七棵圆柏中最大的一株高达13米，树干周长约6.5米。中国圆柏在日本佛教寺庙中很常见，尤其被认为是禅宗寺庙的象征，一部分原因正是源自建长寺的道隆手植柏。