Artifacts excavated from Hiraohara Kyozuka and memorial tower
Old view of Hiraobara Kyozuka (photographed in 1990)
Sutra Memorial Pagoda
Hiraohara Sutra Mound During the Edo period, More than 60 states of Sacred place Going around, Copying Sutras It was built to commemorate the Offering of scriptures This is the mound of the Sutra Memorial Tower By the mid-Edo period Hoei It was discovered that the memorial tower was erected in 1708. Currently, the memorial tower stands at 1-49-7 Hirao, but it was originally located about 20 meters to the west, next to the Hirao branch of the Agricultural Cooperative Association (see photo above). It was moved to its current location in 1992 to accommodate the construction of a new building.
The sutra mound itself Latter Days of the Law Under the influence of the shogun, it began to be made among aristocrats during the Heian period, but Sacred place Visit the temple and submit a copy of the sutra The Sixty-six Chapters of National Sutra Tomb This tradition flourished in the 16th century and continued into the Edo period. Hiraohara Sutra Mound belongs to the latest generation of such sutra mounds. There are 25 sutra memorial towers in the city, 13 of which are Rokujurokubu Kaikoku Sutra Mounds, and Hiraohara Sutra Mound is the oldest of these, with a well-formed stone tower.
Investigated Hiraobara Kyozuka
According to a survey of stone structures by the Board of Education, Sutra Memorial Tower It was found that the statue was a stone monument engraved with the words "The names of all donors and donors are written in a chronological order under the stone Buddha statue." Inscription Based on this, an excavation of the sutra mound was carried out in 1976. The mound itself is an oval shape measuring approximately 6m x 4.5m, with a height of approximately 70cm, and a sutra memorial tower was erected approximately 20cm south of the top of the mound. The excavation was carried out by removing the pile of soil at the top of the mound. Peel It all started with the soil. River stone It seems Natural gravel is laid, and when you dig down about one meter from this stone Ground (loam layer), and a circular hole about 1 meter in diameter was dug into the ground. Pit was discovered.
Inside the pit Bizen Large grill Jar (Height 32.7 cm, rim diameter 32.5 cm) was placed inside. Bronze of Sutra tube (Height 30.5 cm, diameter 17.7 cm) was stored. trace Because it was recognized Jar It may have had a wooden lid.
Sutra tube Three from within Sutra box and Japanese Mirror , and corrupted Scripture Relics believed to be from the area were discovered. Sutra box All three items are in wooden boxes. Scripture However, due to moisture, it had deteriorated significantly. Scripture I couldn't take it out and unfold it. Sutra box From one of the lids, "Bushu Toyoshima-gun clan □" Transmission An ink inscription was discovered that read: Japanese Mirror It is made of bronze and is 6.5 cm in diameter. It is small but complete. Relics from inside a sutra tube As Sutras Two points on the shaft tip, Kanei Tsūhō One item was found.
The Sixty-six Chapters of National Sutra Tomb At a time when there are few reported excavations of this kind, the fact that the excavation survey has revealed the relationship between the artifacts and the stone inscriptions is an extremely valuable achievement.
Cross section of sutra mound
A jar containing a sutra cylinder
bronze sutra cylinder
State inside the canister
Sutras in a sutra box