信貴山の 寅を頼りに 初詣

Shigisan Chogosonshiji Temple is located on the hillside of Mt. Shigi at an altitude of 437m in Heguri Town, Nara Prefecture, on the prefectural border with Osaka.  More than 1400 years ago, Prince Shotoku visited Shigisan Temple to pray for victory over Mononobe no Moriya, a tough abandoned Buddha sect.  At this time, the time when the principal deity, Bishamon-Ten appeared in front of Prince Shotoku was “the year of the tiger, the day of the tiger, the time of the tiger”, so the tradition of a temple closely related to the tiger was born.  This year is the year of the tiger.  In the precincts, the giant tiger papier mache “The World’s No. 1 Fukutora” and  the “National Treasure, Shigisan Engi Emaki,” which is said to have the roots of “manga,” is on display, and many people have been visiting since New Year’s Day, praying that this is the year to have Corona subdued.

大阪との県境、奈良県平群町の標高437mの信貴山中腹に信貴山朝護孫子寺があります。今から1400余年前、聖徳太子は、強硬な廃仏派である物部守屋を討伐せんと戦勝祈願の為に信貴山に詣でます。この時、聖徳太子の前に本尊の毘沙門天王が現れた時刻が「寅の年、寅の日、寅の刻」だったということから寅とゆかりの深い寺と言う伝承が生まれました。今年は寅年。境内には巨大なトラの張り子「世界一の福寅」や「マンガ」のルーツと言われる「国宝、信貴山縁起絵巻」が展示され、今年こそコロナを討伐してもらおうと、元日から多くの人達が訪れています。