英語訳
## Sazaido (Triple-Spiral Hall)
Located inside the main gate, to the left, alongside the Tenno-den (Hall of Heavenly Kings). The principal objects of worship are the White-Robed Kannon (Byakue Kannon), the Fish-Basket Kannon (Gyoran Kannon), as well as Amida, Seishi, Jizo, and other deities. The upper circuit replicates the pilgrimage sites of the Western Provinces (Saigoku), the middle circuit those of Bandō, and the lower circuit those of Chichibu—together representing one hundred sacred sites of Kannon worship. One hundred Kannon figures are enshrined here, together with images of the fifty-three wise teachers (zenchishiki) of the Kegon assembly (Avatamsaka sutra). The reviving founder of this temple, the Venerable Sōsen, devoted great ingenuity to this structure. Inspired by the principle that "the supreme ritual form is the right-circumambulation in three spiral circuits (unnyū-sansō)," he had this hall constructed in Kanpō 1 (1741, the year of Kanoto-Tori). By spiraling to the right through three circuits, one naturally ascends through a three-story tower without retracing one's steps. Among the common people it is called "Sazaido" (Turban-shell Hall), and it has come to serve as the model for all such triple-circuit halls built in later times. Its ingenious construction is truly worthy of the highest praise.
**[Illustration 1: Plaque reading "Unnyū-Sansōdō" (Right-Circling Triple-Spiral Hall)]**
*Plaque (hung inside the canopy of the front porch):* Written by the Venerable Sessson of this temple.
**[Illustration 2: Plaque reading "Entsūkaku" (Pavilion of Perfect Penetration)]**
*Plaque (hung at the eaves of the second floor of the same hall):* Written by the Venerable Sōsen of this temple.
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## Tennō-den (Hall of Heavenly Kings)
Located to the right in the same precinct. Inside are enshrined: the image of the Hotei monk (Budai) of Jingshan Monastery, the Dharma-Protector Guandi (Guan Yu), Idaten (Skanda), Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa), Zōchōten (Virūḍhaka), and other of the Three Heavenly Kings, as well as a wooden image of the Kimnara King. Each image is the work of the Zen Master Shōun (Dokushō Shōen), and was installed in Kyōhō 16 (1731).
**[Illustration 3: Plaque reading "Ten'onzan" (Mountain of Heavenly Grace)]**
*Plaque (hung at the eaves of the Tennō-den):* Written by the Venerable Hōshū of this temple.
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## Kinseki (Forbidden Stone)
Located in front of the Rakan-dō (Hall of Arhats).
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## Setsukan-ki (Temple Flagpole and Banner)
Erected to the left and right of the same location. It is said that they began to be erected from the third month of Kyōhō 13 (1728).
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## Zendō (Meditation Hall)
Located behind and to the right of the same area.
**[Illustration 4: Plaque reading "Senbutsu-jō" (Place for Selecting Buddhas)]**
*Plaque (hung at the eaves of the same hall):* Written by Mokuan of the Ōbaku school.
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## Settaisho (Guest Reception Hall)
Located alongside the same place.
**[Illustration 5: Plaque reading "Kissa Gen(?)"]**
*Plaque (hung at the eaves):* Written by Hosoi Kyūkō.
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## Fujidana (Wisteria Trellis)
Located beside the imperial rest-bench (o-koshikake). It is said that the wisteria was planted in Genbun 4 (1739, the year of Tsuchinoto-Hitsuji).
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## Shōrō (Bell Tower)
Located in front of the living quarters (kuri). In Genroku 9 (1696), the Lady Kōshōin-den, wife of Makino Bingo-no-kami Narisada, had it erected. The inscription was composed by the Venerable Tetsugyū of Kōfuku-ji temple.
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### Bell Inscription with Preface for the Zen Temple of Five Hundred Great Arhats of Ten'on-zan, Musashi Province
*[The following is a formal Chinese-style (kanbun) text, translated from the original:]*
The Temple of the Five Hundred Great Arhats of Ten'on-zan in Musashi Province was founded during the Genroku era by the monk Shōun. In the spring of the Kanoto-Hitsuji year (1691), Shōun came from Kyoto and spoke to this old monk (Tetsugyū), saying: "From childhood, your disciple has loved carving images, and now I have formed a vow to carve five hundred Arhats as a field of merit for all living beings. However, being aware of my meager karmic merit, I humbly hope that the Venerable will, in compassion, employ great skillful means and grant us your invisible blessing." This old monk sighed and said: "This vow is exceedingly difficult. Whether it succeeds or not will certainly not depend on the abundance or scarcity of karmic merit—it depends entirely on whether the aspiring heart is genuine or not. If your resolve is sincere and true, the karmic merit will come from all living beings; do not worry about it. This old monk will set out on your behalf to bring it to completion." He donated his own clothing allowance to carve the first venerable image, and also encouraged the temples of Zuishōji and Gokuhōji each to carve one image. By the early spring of the Mizunoto-Tori year (1693), fifty images had been completed. This old monk was requested to perform the eye-opening ceremony and make offerings. On the very day that auspicious signs appeared—the earth shook and clouds billowed—work began on a sixteen-foot image of the Lotus-Holding (Nenge) figure. In the third month of the Kinoe-Inu year (1694), the National Mother, the Great Lady Keishōin, graciously donated funds for the carving of ten more images. From that point on, through propagation efforts over the course of three to five years, the vow was nearly fulfilled—truly beyond all ordinary comprehension. The achievement having already come to the attention of those above, in the autumn of the Kinoto-I year (1695), the seventh month, land was finally granted, and in the eighth month, the Ōbaku Master Kōsen happened to be at the official residence and was requested to conduct the eye-opening ceremony for the sixteen-foot Nenge image. In the summer of the Hinoe-Ne year (1696), the fourth month, a multi-day Dharma assembly was inaugurated at the newly opened Great Arhat Temple, offering reverent salutation to three thousand sacred names, and making offerings openly to the four orders of disciples. This old monk was also requested to offer incense. Every official, scholar, commoner, old and young, monastics and laity alike, all hastened to attend this splendid assembly and rejoiced together. Was this not a magnificent event rare in the world? Shōun is the cousin of my Dharma-brother, the Venerable Tetsugen, and as a person he is honest, simple, broad-minded, and magnanimous. Even when a hundred tasks came rushing at him at once, he showed not the slightest sign of weariness. If he were not such a person, how could he have brought this great vow to its complete fulfillment? His merit and virtue, even if a thousand ages were to pass, how could they ever fade? Here, the lady of Makino, Junior Fourth Rank, Lord-Governor of Bingo Province, Narisada—whose Buddhist name and posthumous title is Kōshōin-den Reigan Ji Daishi—donated funds to cast a great bronze bell. On the day it was completed, she requested this old monk to strike it for the first time, and further asked for an inscription. Accordingly, an inscription is composed as follows:
*In the wild seascape of Wuling, a new Zen garden is created;*
*Wishing to cast a great bell, the bronze-master toils with all his might.*
*Smelted in the great furnace, its sound shakes whales and leviathans;*
*This mouth of the great universe swallows mountains and rivers whole.*