両国に仕事で行った時に、回向院を発見しました。
江戸時代の明暦大火や各歴史上の出来事の被害者を供養するためのお寺です。
英文の説明文を見つけたので、表現の勉強のために書き写しておきます。
Tangible cultural property (Historical Material)
Sekizo Meireki Taika oshisha-to Kuyoto
Designated in 1924
This is a tower built for victims of the Great Fire at Meireki time. It was built around 1675 by the petition from the second chief priest of Ekoin Temple, Shinyo Teizon.
There used to be many fires in Edo. Since merchants, who account for a half of the population in Edo, were crammed into limited areas, a single fire could cause serious damage. The Great Fire at Meireki time is a common term for three fires that occurred consecutively from January 18 to 19. Most of the city center at the time (current Chiyoda and Chuo wards) was affected by the fire and tens of thousands of people were killed.
The main stone is in rectangular shape and all four surfaces were chamfered. On top of the main stone, a coping stone with bargeboards on all four sides, and houju(sacred gem) are place on . Tow lotus-shaped base and two square pedestal stones are at the bottom. The total height is 305cm (coping stone 68cm, main stone 162cm, lotus-shaped base and pedestal stones 75cm). The tower was originally build in front of Sanbutsu-do hall at the right side of the main hall of Ekoin Temple. Later the halls were moved but it is assumed that the location of the tower has not been moved. In Ekoin Temple, there are many other memorial towers for the neglected. In the east side of the main hall, many memorial towers and gravestones of the famous can be seen.
１か月くらい前に江戸東京博物館で、回向院の事を知り、一度行ってみたいと思っていました。江戸東京博物館には、江戸に関する資料と英語の説明が沢山あるので、とても勉強になります。私は、江戸・東京を英語で学ぶために、江戸東京博物館の友の会の会員になりました。常設展は、会員証があれば、無料で入ることができるので、沢山通っていろいろな事を学ぼうと思っています。
