話飲徒然草〜Tokyo Meanderings

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2025年06月13日

ぶらり東京散歩その25～目黒自社巡り①（五百羅漢）Tokyo Stroll 26 500-Rakan statues in Meguro (Part 2)

カテゴリ：都内近郊散策

After undergoing a colonoscopy at a clinic in Shirokane and visiting the Minato City Local History Museum, I took a leisurely walk toward Meguro Station and stopped by Daiyūzan Daienji Temple, located partway down Gyōnin-zaka slope.

「明和の大火」通称「行人坂火事」の火元になったことでも知られている。
Daienji is known as the site where the infamous “Gyōnin-zaka Fire”—officially the Great Fire of the Meiwa Era—is said to have originated.

出火原因は盗みのため武州熊谷無宿の真秀という坊主の庫裡への放火だそうだ。
The fire was allegedly started by a monk named Mashū, an unregistered vagrant from Kumagaya in Bushū Province, who set fire to the temple kitchen during a robbery attempt.

大円寺石仏群 520躯（釈迦三尊像 3躯、十大弟子像 10躯、十六羅漢像 16躯、五百羅漢像491躯）　
The temple grounds are quite atmospheric, and what truly stands out is the Stone Buddha Statue Complex, made up of 520 statues: three of Shakyamuni, ten disciples, sixteen arhats, and a remarkable 491 rakan (enlightened followers of the Buddha).

天明年間（1780年代）目黒行人坂火事の犠牲者追悼のために作られたとされている。

五百羅漢像といえば、こちらも有名。少し離れた、目黒不動尊の近くにある「五百羅漢寺」。
Speaking of rakan statues, another famous spot comes to mind—Gohyaku Rakan-ji (The Temple of 500 Arhats), located near Meguro Fudōson.

由緒ある寺だが、盛衰や移転を繰り返し、境内は近代的なビルになっている。
Though it’s a temple with a long and respected history, Gohyaku Rakan-ji has undergone periods of decline and relocation. Today, its grounds are housed within a modern concrete building—an unusual sight for a temple of its age.

写真撮影不可なのが残念だが、当寺の羅鑑像群は圧巻だ。開基の松雲元慶（1648年 - 1710年）が独力で彫り上げたもの。彫像は当初は536体あったが、近代以降、寺の衰退時に多くが失われ、羅漢像287体を含む305体が現存している。なお、世田谷区下馬の世田谷山観音寺には、五百羅漢寺から流出した羅漢像9体が所蔵されているとのこと。今度行ってみようと思う。
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside, but the collection of rakan statues is truly awe-inspiring. The temple’s founder, Shōun Genkei (1648–1710), is said to have carved them all by himself. Originally, there were 536 statues, but over time many were lost. Today, 305 remain, including 287 rakan statues.
Interestingly, Setagaya Kannon-ji Temple in Shimouma, Setagaya Ward, is said to house nine statues that originally came from Gohyaku Rakan-ji. I’m thinking of visiting that temple next.

拝観料500円と、このエリアの寺社にしては安くないが、羅鑑像をはじめ、一度は訪れる価値のある寺だと思う。敷地内にはらかん亭やらかん茶屋といった飲食処もあり、ここでゆっくり過ごすのもいいかもしれない。
The admission fee is 500 yen—a bit steep for a temple in this area—but I believe it’s well worth it to see such a rare and powerful collection of Buddhist sculpture. There’s also a café and tea house on the grounds—Rakan-tei and Rakan Chaya—so spending some quiet time here wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

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