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岡山県総社市にある備中国分寺跡と五重塔（重文）
Ruins of Bicchu Kokubunji Temple and Five-storied Pagoda (Important Cultural Property) in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture
備中国分寺跡
Ruins of Bicchu Kokubunji Temple
奈良時代中期の天平時代、741年に聖武天皇の発願によって建立が始まった。
Bicchu Kokubunji Temple was built in 741 during the Tenpyo Period, the middle of the Nara Period, at the request of Emperor Shomu.
仏教の力を借りて天災や飢饉（ききん）から国を守る
「鎮護国家思想」をもとに建てられた。
The temple was built based on the concept of "Chingo Kokubun-ji," which means "protection of the nation from natural disasters and famine with the help of Buddhism.
創建当初の備中国分寺跡は現在の国分寺境内と重複しているが、
創建当時の礎石が多く残されており、
寺域は東西160メートル・南北180メートル。
ただし金堂や講堂の位置・規模は不明
The site of the original Bicchu Kokubunji Temple overlaps the current Kokubunji Temple precincts, but many of the foundation stones from the time of its construction still remain.However, the location and scale of the Kondo and the lecture hall are unknown.
出土した土器などから中世初期まで存続したと推定。
Based on the pottery excavated, it is estimated that the temple survived until the early medieval period.
寺伝では、廃寺となっていた国分寺を天正年間（1573年-1592年）に
備中高松城主・清水宗治が再興したが衰微し、
江戸時代中期の宝永年間（1704年-1711年）に再建されたとされる。
According to the temple legend, the abandoned Kokubunji Temple was rebuilt by Soji Shimizu, the lord of Bicchu Takamatsu Castle, during the Tensho period (1573-1592), but it declined and was rebuilt during the 1704-1711 Hōei period (mid-Edo period).
備中国分寺五重塔
Five-story pagoda of Bicchu Kokubunji Temple
創建当時は高さ約50メートルの七重塔と推定。
現在の五重塔は、高さ34.315メートル。
When it was built, it was estimated to be a seven-storied pagoda with
a height of about 50 meters.
The present five-story pagoda is 34.315 meters high.
南北朝時代（1337-1392）に奈良時代の七重塔を焼失したが、
1844年-1847年に再建された。
During the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392), the Nara-era seven-story pagoda was destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt in 1844-1847.
屋根の上層と下層がほぼ同じ大きさの細長い造りで相輪も短く、
時代後期の様式を濃く残す五重塔。
It is a five-storied pagoda that retains the style of the late Edo period with its elongated structure and short aisurin, where the upper and lower roofs are almost the same size.
三重塔の計画を途中で五重塔に変更したとされ、
3層まではケヤキ材、4・5層まではマツ材が主体。
It is said that the pagoda was originally planned as a three-story pagoda, but was changed to a five-story pagoda in the middle of the project. The first three stories are made of zelkova wood, and the fourth and fifth stories are mainly made of pine.
塔内は初層内部中央に心柱が立ち、四周に四天柱を据え、
その内側に仏壇を作り、四如来像を安置している。
天井は格子状で天井板には55cm角大の欅の一枚板を使い、
彩色画が描かれ、堂内をいっそう荘厳にしている。
絵は全部で104枚あり、四天柱の脇にある４枚の天女図のほかは
季節の花々を描いた草花文。
Inside the pagoda, a central pillar stands in the center of the first floor, and four pillars are placed around the four sides. Inside the pillars, a Buddhist altar is built and four images of Buddha are enshrined. The ceiling is latticed, and the ceiling board is made of a single 55cm square zelkova board with colored paintings on it,
making the hall even more solemn.
There are 104 paintings in total, and besides the four pictures of Tennyo (celestial maidens) on the sides of the four pillars,
the others are flower designs depicting seasonal flowers.
岡山県唯一の五重塔として重要文化財に指定
As the only five-story pagoda in Okayama Prefecture,
it is designated as an important cultural property.
アクセスは、岡山総社ＩＣから車１０分、総社駅から車１０分
駐車場は無料、普通車２００台
総社駅からレンタサイクルでも約20分、
吉備路自転車道で行くのが最高におすすめ！
Access: 10 minutes drive from Okayama Soja IC, 1
0 minutes drive from Soja Station. Parking is free. 200 cars.
Also about 20 minutes from Soja Station by rented bicycle,
best to take the Kibi Road Bicycle Path!
引用／現地説明版（Ｈ14）・岡山観光WEB・総社観光ナビ・ウイキペディア
Reference/ Local explanation version (H14), Okayama Sightseeing Web, Soja Sightseeing Navigation, Wikipedia
翻訳／DeepL翻訳