15/05/2026
そもそも、長谷寺のはじまりの地には何があったのでしょうか?
長谷寺の黎明期、道明上人は朱鳥元年(686)、当時の天皇陛下の病気平癒を祈願し、西の丘の石室に「千仏多宝仏塔」を納めました。
現在の五重塔付近とも伝わるこの地には、のちに「本長谷寺」と呼ばれる堂宇があり、道明上人らが山岳修行を行っていたと考えられています。
その後、弟子の徳道上人が現在の観音堂の地に長谷観音をお祀りし、長谷寺が開かれていきました。
長谷寺縁起絵巻の冒頭には、道明上人が銅板を奉納する様子が描かれています。(写真1)
そして、その銅板は現存しています。(写真2)白鳳時代に制作された千仏多宝仏塔は「銅板法華説相図」の事で、長谷寺の縁起を物語る資料として国宝に指定されます。実はこの銅板に描かれる仁王像は国内最古の仁王像になります。
現在、長谷寺では7月5日までその国宝の銅板法華説相図を特別公開中です。普段は奈良博に寄託され久方ぶりの里帰りです。さらに今期限定で、この銅板をイメージした「瓦煎餅」も授与しております。(写真3)
“食べる国宝“
開山1300年にちなみ、価格は1300円です。
1300年前の祈りに、少しだけ触れてみませんか。
What stood at the birthplace of Hasedera before the temple itself began?
In the first years of Hasedera’s history, the monk Domyo Shonin is said to have enshrined a “Senbutsu Tahōbutsutō” in a stone chamber on the western hill in 686 CE, praying for the recovery of the Emperor.
This area, believed to have been near the present Five-Story Pagoda, later became known as “Moto-Hasedera,” where Domyo and fellow ascetics practiced mountain austerities.
Later, his disciple Tokudo Shonin enshrined the Kannon Bodhisattva at the site of the present main hall, marking the true beginning of Hasedera.
At the opening of the Hasedera Engi Emaki (Illustrated Legends of Hasedera), Domyo Shonin is depicted offering a bronze plaque. (Photo 1)
Remarkably, that very plaque still exists today. (Photo 2)
The “Senbutsu Tahōbutsutō” created in the Hakuho period is believed to refer to the famous Dōban Hokke Sessōzu (“Bronze Plaque Depicting Scenes from the Lotus Sutra”), now designated a National Treasure as a vital record of Hasedera’s origins.
In fact, the Nio guardian figures depicted on the plaque are considered the oldest surviving Nio images in Japan.
Currently, Hasedera is holding a special exhibition of this National Treasure until July 5. Usually entrusted to the Nara National Museum, it has finally returned home after many years.
For this limited period, we are also offering special “Kawara Senbei” rice crackers inspired by the bronze plaque. (Photo 3)
“A National Treasure you can eat.”
In honor of Hasedera’s 1300th anniversary, the price is 1,300 yen.
Why not take a small step closer to the prayers of 1,300 years ago?