The Reconstruction Process of Risshakuji Temple and the Origin of Popular Beliefs: An Examination of the Builders of Stone Cultural Properties

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00969
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Araki Shinobu 山形大学, 学士課程基盤教育院, 教授 (10326754)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 霊場 / 石造文化財 / 磨崖 / 立石寺 / 松島 / 屋号

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a survey of the stone cultural properties at Risshakuji Temple, with a focus on the polished cliff memorials, and other items that require re-examination. As a result, we were able to obtain new information on the builders. In particular, we published detailed data on the Midahora area in a paper. In addition, a comparison of Risshakuji Temple with Matsushima Zuiganji and Oshima was conducted to clarify the uniqueness of the sacred site from the viewpoint of stone cultural properties. As a result, it was found that the form of the monument was unified into a plate monument in Risshakuji, whereas in Matsushima, the form changed in the same way as that of the stone pagodas. In terms of the erectors of the monuments, the difference between Risshakuji and Matsushima became clear, as many of the monuments were erected by more than one family, and many of the monuments were erected by "yagou" , mainly in Oshima.

Free Research Field

日本考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中世から近世にかけて、立石寺に関する文献史料は豊富とはいえない。そこで、モノ資料による歴史の復元が重要になる。本研究では石造文化財に刻まれた建立者に関わる情報を中心に、近世における復興過程や庶民霊場としての初源的様相について解明することができた。
本研究で対象としたような日本列島各地に残る霊場は国内外からの注目度も高く、観光資源としての役割もある。文化創造都市を推進する山形市において、日本遺産にも認定されている立石寺に関する研究成果を広く発信することで、地域社会へと様々な側面で還元することが可能になった。