阿弥陀石棺仏
| Cultural property name | Sekkanbutsu of Amida Nyorai |
|---|---|
| Commentary | A sekkanbutsu is a stone coffin from the Kofun period with a buddha figure carved into it that is set up beside a road. It was an object of worship for common people. This sekkanbutsu was made using the lid of a house-shaped stone coffin constructed sometime during the middle to late Kofun period, and its interior has been carved to create a rectangular depression. Depicted at the center is Amida Nyorai standing on a lotus platform. Carved as a relief, Amida Nyorai stands with a boat-shaped halo shining behind it, its hands in the mudra (hand positions) of raigo (welcoming the spirits of the dead). Because many of the existing sekkanbutsu of Amida Nyorai have a sitting Amida Nyorai, a standing one like this one is rare. The material used for this stone coffin lid is thought to be Tatsuyama stone from Harima Province, which is a type of stone quarried from areas around Takasago and Kasai in Hyogo Prefecture. When the features of the Amida Nyorai and other sekkanbutsu whose ages have been determined are considered, around the Nanbokucho period is presumed to be when this sekkanbutsu was carved. Lore states that this sekkanbutsu was transported from Naga District, Wakayama Prefecture. Tokoen, a landscaping business, obtained it around 1950 and gave it to Fukushoji Temple as an offering. As this is the only sekkanbutsu of its type in Tokyo, it is a rare artifact. |