Stone Tablet

History of the Stone Tablet

The stone tablets, known as itabi, were memorial towers created from the Kamakura period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (13th to 16th centuries) to honor the deceased and wish for the peace of future generations. They were erected in various locations across the country.
Due to the different types of stone used in each region, there are variations in shape, but many have the following form: the overall shape is flat, with a triangular peak at the top. The lower part features two lines or notches, distinguishing it from the main body. The main body is divided into rectangular sections, where symbols representing Buddhas or Bodhisattvas are depicted in Sanskrit or images, along with patterns such as canopies, lotus pedestals, and vases, as well as inscriptions of dates and names of the donors.
The origin of the itabi is believed to be in the northern part of Musashi Province, the stronghold of the Kanto warriors. In Saitama Prefecture, there is currently a stone tablet from the 3rd year of the Karoku era (1227), which is considered the oldest. It is thought that this practice gradually spread from this region to surrounding areas and eventually throughout the country. Nationwide, it is evident that the most itabi were created in the Kanto region, which is attributed to the use of green schist (a blue, easily processed rock) produced in the Chichibu region of Saitama Prefecture, known as Musashi-style itabi. The custom of erecting itabi, which began in the Kamakura period, flourished mainly in Musashi Province and disappeared by the end of the medieval period. By the Edo period, it had completely ceased, and the establishment of gravestones became common. For these reasons, itabi can be said to represent stone structures of the medieval period.

Stone Tablets in Inagi City

Currently, 268 stone tablets have been confirmed within the city. Not only those made of green schist, but recently, one stone tablet made of Inase stone has also been confirmed. Most of them are small, measuring about 50 to 60 centimeters in height. By region, the Omaru area has the most with 102 tablets, followed by the Yanokuchi area with 44, the Hirao area with 43, the Sakahama area with 30, and the Momura area with 28. The Higashi-Naganuma (5 tablets) and Oshitate (7 tablets) areas have fewer. (Unknown: 9 tablets) The distribution tends to be near old settlements and old roads, particularly in the boundary areas between hilly and flat regions, with fewer found in the floodplain areas of the Tama River. However, stone tablets are movable stone structures due to their size, so it is necessary to consider the possibility of loss due to flooding of the Tama River or secondary movements.
The oldest stone tablet in the city was established in the second year of Shōō (1289), and the newest was established in the fifth year of Tenmon (1536). The establishment of stone tablets continued for about 250 years during this period (from the late Kamakura period to the late Muromachi period), with a particularly flourishing period from the 1310s to the 1390s.

Distinctive Stone Tablets

Next, we will introduce the distinctive stone tablets.
The stone tablet at Myokakuji Temple in Yanokuchi (shown in the photo above) stands 112 centimeters above ground, making it the largest in the city and in excellent condition with a well-preserved shape. It features clearly engraved images of the Amida Three Deities, the name of the donor inscribed as "Gyakushudo Shuzendo," and a date inscription from the 3rd year of Kyotoku (1454). Additionally, as the only example in the city, it contains four lines of Sanskrit characters representing the Kōmyō Shingon.
Two stone tablets of the Thirteen Buddhas, which are rare in the southern Kanto region, have been discovered. This stone tablet represents the seeds of the Thirteen Buddhas and became popular due to the folk beliefs that worshiped the Five Buddhas, Seven Bodhisattvas, and One Myōō as a group, which emerged after the Muromachi period. It is also characterized by a unique arrangement of the Thirteen Buddhas that differs from the usual layout.
The stone tablet excavated from the Nyujozuka in Hirao is a rare tablet with gold mud remaining on the characters, inscribed with the name of the esoteric monk Choshin Hōin, who entered meditation in the mound, making it a valuable historical document that reflects the reality of faith.
Other distinctive stone tablets include Shinto stone tablets, Jōdō sect Amida tablets, and tablets inscribed with the six-character name "Namu Amida Butsu." Additionally, as a special excavation example, there are three groups of stone tablets (a total of 78) discovered on the slope of the Omaru ruins, which are believed to have been collected from other locations and rearranged secondarily.