Yakushido, Former Hall of the Buddha of Healing 成田山新勝寺薬師堂

成田山新勝寺（成田山表参道）　薬師堂

Yakushido, Former Hall of the Buddha of Healing

The Yakushido is the oldest of the former main halls of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. It was built in 1655 and moved here outside the temple grounds on the main approach (omotesando) to the temple in 1855 when the Shakado was built.

The Buddha of medicine and healing, Yakushi-Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru), was enshrined here before it was moved to the Ioden. Worshippers came to pray to Yakushi Nyorai for good health and longevity, including the famous Kabuki actor Danjuro Ichikawa I (1660–1704), who in the Genroku period (1688–1704) is said to have prayed here for a child. His son was born soon afterward. He celebrated by playing the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple deity, Fudo Myoo, on stage, gaining the Ichikawa school of Kabuki the stage name “Naritaya.” His descendants have had strong ties with the temple ever since.

In 1969, the city of Narita designed this hall a Tangible Cultural Property[1].

1655年（明暦元年）に建立された旧本堂で、徳川光圀公や初代市川團十郎が参詣した成田山現存最古の御堂です。1701年（元禄14年）の本堂「現光明堂」再建の折、この御堂は新本堂の後方に移築され、約150年にわたり伽藍の一端を担いました。その後、1855年（安政2年）の本堂「現釈迦堂」建立を機に、明暦の旧本堂を薬師堂と改称、この地に移築し現在に至ります。

＊御本尊の薬師如来像は現在、新勝寺の「醫王殿」に移祀されています[2]。

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参考リンク

[1] 成田山新勝寺（成田山表参道）　薬師堂

[2] 成田山薬師堂 (成田山旧本堂)ーなりたさんやくしどう