「碧巌寺」熊本県・”Hekigan-ji temple”Kumamoto-pref.

「碧巌寺」熊本県・”Hekigan-ji temple”Kumamoto-pref.

「碧巌寺」熊本県菊池市

南北朝時代〜室町時代の作庭。本堂東側に面した小さな池泉庭園。庭は宋の禅書「碧巌録」の世界観を表しています。池の背後になだらかな築山が作られ立石が一つ、これは須弥山ではなく碧巖石。池の中にいかにも室町風の立石岩島が一つ、これは背後の龍門瀑石組とセットの鯉魚石。エッジの効いた平石が三つも池の中央に浮かんでいますがこれらは座禅石。濡れ縁の下に座禅石へ降りて渡るための小さく美しい石段の石組も確認できます。この池庭は本堂の濡れ縁に座って鑑賞する座鑑(視)式ですが、座禅石で座禅を組むための庭。本堂側から見た対岸左半分に長く伸びる平板な護岸は龍を表しています。この庭に使われている石のほとんどは平石です。薄い石を屏風のように立て組み合わせ大きく見せる作庭技法が用いられています。九州では一度も廃墟にならずに現在まで連綿と継承されてきた室町期の庭園の数少ない作例です。小ぶりな石を用いた繊細な石組ですがエッジの効いた大胆でアブストラクトな面もあり実際に禅の研究をするために作られた本物の禅庭です。菊池氏の武士のセンスも加わり凛とした小さくても計り知れない魅力をたたえた庭です。室町時代以降一度も絶えず廃墟にならずに伝えられたこの庭園がある碧巌寺は無住となりお寺の存亡の危機にあります。本堂の床はぬけ屋根は崩れかかっています。保存に向けて熊本県に動いてもらいたいものです。碧巌寺は住職不在のため無人でお堂は荒れていますが庭園だけは近隣の檀家さんが定期的に除草作業などをしてくださっています。

◼︎名称：「碧巌寺」

◼︎拝観時間：日中

◼︎住所：熊本県菊池市七城町亀尾１９５２

◼︎TEL：無住職のため不明。

◼︎駐車場：無料

"Hekigan-ji temple" Kumamoto-pref.

"Heiwaji Temple" Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture

A garden made during the Muromachi period. A small pond garden facing the east side of the main hall. The garden represents the world view of Song's Zen book "Blue Cliff Record". A stone stands on the gentle rockery behind the pond, this is Blue Cliff stone, not Mt. Meru. There is one Muromachi-style Iwashima in the pond, which is a carp fish stone set with the Ryumon waterfall stone group behind. Three edgy flat stones are floating in the center of the pond, but these are Zazen stones. You can also see the small and beautiful stone steps for descending to the Zazen stone under the wet edge. This pond garden is a style of sitting in the corridor of the main hall, but it is also a garden for zazen on zazen stones. The flat revetment that extends to the left half of the opposite bank as seen from the main hall side represents a dragon. Most of the stones used in this garden are flat stones. A gardening technique is used in which thin stones are erected like a folding screen to make them look bigger. This is one of the few examples of gardens in the Muromachi period that have been passed down to the present day without being abandoned in Kyushu. Although it is a delicate stone set using small stones, it has a bold and abstract side with an edge, and it is a real Zen garden made for actually studying Zen. With the addition of Mr. Kikuchi's samurai sense, this garden has a dignified and immeasurable charm. Since the Muromachi period, the temple, which has this garden that has never been abandoned, has become a priest and is in danger of surviving. The floor of the main hall is empty and the roof is about to collapse. .. However, only in the garden, the neighbors regularly perform maintenance such as weeding work.

◼︎ Name: "Hekigan ji Temple"

◼︎ Visiting time: Daytime

◼︎ Address: 1952 Kameo, Shichijomachi, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture

◼︎TEL: Unknown because there is no priest.

◼︎ Parking: Free