平等院鳳凰堂 – 英語で説明するために – 英会話形式で学ぶ

Oh, definitely! It’s one of the most famous temples in Japan, located in Uji, near Kyoto. It’s even on the 10-yen coin.

Well, Byodoin was turned into a Buddhist temple in 1052 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi, who inherited the villa from his father, Fujiwara no Michinaga. The Phoenix Hall, its most iconic building, was completed the following year, in 1053.

Exactly. The Fujiwara family was very powerful during the Heian period, and the villa was a luxurious retreat. Later, Yorimichi converted it into a temple to express Buddhist ideals.

Its design is incredible. The building looks like a phoenix spreading its wings, and there are two phoenix statues on the roof. The hall is surrounded by a Pure Land Garden, which represents paradise in Buddhism.

Yes, inside, you’ll find the Amida Buddha statue, made by a famous sculptor named Jocho. It’s a National Treasure, just like the hall itself. The walls are also decorated with 52 small Bodhisattva statues floating on clouds, which symbolize a heavenly scene.

In Buddhism, the Pure Land is a place of peace and happiness, free from suffering. The Fujiwara family wanted to express this idea through the temple and its garden.

Yes, it’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” It was registered in 1994 along with other famous temples and shrines in Kyoto.

It does, especially during spring for cherry blossoms and autumn for the red leaves. The reflection of the hall on the pond is breathtaking. There’s even a night illumination event during certain seasons.

Very easy. From Kyoto Station, you can take the JR Nara Line to Uji Station. It’s about a 10-minute walk from there. Or, you can use the Keihan Line and get off at Keihan Uji Station.

Uji is famous for its green tea, so you should try some matcha sweets. You can also visit Ujigami Shrine, another World Heritage Site, and enjoy a walk along Uji River.

Go early to avoid the crowds, and don’t miss the Byodoin Museum. It has the original phoenix statues and other treasures from the temple.

You’re welcome, Mack. Let me know how it goes. You’re going to love it!

Oh, definitely! It’s one of the most famous temples in Japan, located in Uji, near Kyoto. It’s even on the 10-yen coin.

もちろんだよ！日本で最も有名なお寺の一つで、京都の近くの宇治にあるんだよ。それに、10円硬貨にも描かれているんだ。

Well, Byodoin was turned into a Buddhist temple in 1052 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi, who inherited the villa from his father, Fujiwara no Michinaga. The Phoenix Hall, its most iconic building, was completed the following year, in 1053.

実は、平等院は1052年に藤原頼通が父の藤原道長から別荘を受け継いで仏教寺院に改めたんだ。一番有名な鳳凰堂はその翌年の1053年に完成したんだよ。

Exactly. The Fujiwara family was very powerful during the Heian period, and the villa was a luxurious retreat. Later, Yorimichi converted it into a temple to express Buddhist ideals.

その通りだよ。平安時代、藤原家はとても強大で、この別荘は豪華な隠れ家だったんだ。それを後に頼通が仏教の理想を表現するためにお寺に改めたんだよ。

Its design is incredible. The building looks like a phoenix spreading its wings, and there are two phoenix statues on the roof. The hall is surrounded by a Pure Land Garden, which represents paradise in Buddhism.

デザインが素晴らしいよ。建物は翼を広げた鳳凰のように見えるし、屋根の上には2体の鳳凰像があるんだ。それに、仏教の極楽浄土を表現した浄土式庭園に囲まれているんだよ。

Yes, inside, you’ll find the Amida Buddha statue, made by a famous sculptor named Jocho. It’s a National Treasure, just like the hall itself. The walls are also decorated with 52 small Bodhisattva statues floating on clouds, which symbolize a heavenly scene.

うん、中には阿弥陀如来像があるよ。有名な仏師・定朝が作ったもので、鳳凰堂と同じく国宝だよ。それに、壁には雲の上を舞う52体の菩薩像が飾られていて、天国の情景を象徴しているんだ。

In Buddhism, the Pure Land is a place of peace and happiness, free from suffering. The Fujiwara family wanted to express this idea through the temple and its garden.

仏教では、極楽浄土は苦しみのない平和で幸せな場所なんだ。藤原家はこのアイデアをお寺と庭園を通じて表現したかったんだよ。

Yes, it’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” It was registered in 1994 along with other famous temples and shrines in Kyoto.

そうだよ。「古都京都の文化財」として1994年にユネスコの世界遺産に登録されたんだ。他の有名なお寺や神社と一緒にね。

It does, especially during spring for cherry blossoms and autumn for the red leaves. The reflection of the hall on the pond is breathtaking. There’s even a night illumination event during certain seasons.

そうだね。特に春の桜や秋の紅葉の時期に多くの人が来るよ。池に映る鳳凰堂の姿は息をのむ美しさなんだ。それに、特定の季節には夜間のライトアップイベントもあるんだ。

Very easy. From Kyoto Station, you can take the JR Nara Line to Uji Station. It’s about a 10-minute walk from there. Or, you can use the Keihan Line and get off at Keihan Uji Station.

とても簡単だよ。京都駅からJR奈良線で宇治駅まで行けるし、そこから徒歩10分くらいだよ。もしくは京阪電車で京阪宇治駅に行くこともできるよ。

Uji is famous for its green tea, so you should try some matcha sweets. You can also visit Ujigami Shrine, another World Heritage Site, and enjoy a walk along Uji River.

宇治は抹茶で有名だから、抹茶スイーツを試してみるといいよ。それに、もう一つの世界遺産である宇治上神社を訪れたり、宇治川沿いを散策したりもできるよ。

Go early to avoid the crowds, and don’t miss the Byodoin Museum. It has the original phoenix statues and other treasures from the temple.

混雑を避けるために早めに行くといいよ。それから、平等院ミュージアムは必見だよ。そこには屋根の鳳凰像の原物や他の宝物が展示されているんだ。

You’re welcome, Mack. Let me know how it goes. You’re going to love it!

どういたしまして、マック。どうだったか教えてね。きっと気に入るよ！

villa : 名詞
意味:別荘、大邸宅。A large, luxurious house, often in the countryside or used as a vacation home.
（平等院鳳凰堂の歴史的背景では、藤原道長の別荘を指して使用）
例文:

• They spent their summer at a luxurious villa by the sea.
  「彼らは海辺の豪華な別荘で夏を過ごしました。」
• The family owns a villa in the Italian countryside.
  「その家族はイタリアの田舎に別荘を所有しています。」
• Byodoin was originally a villa for Fujiwara no Michinaga.
  「平等院は元々藤原道長の別荘でした。」

inherit : 動詞
意味:遺産や財産、特性を受け継ぐ。To receive money, property, or traits from someone after they die or through family.
（藤原頼通が父親である藤原道長から別荘を「受け継いだ」ことを示す）
例文:

• She will inherit her grandmother’s house.
  「彼女は祖母の家を受け継ぐ予定です。」
• He inherited his father’s business skills.
  「彼は父親の経営スキルを受け継ぎました。」
• Fujiwara no Yorimichi inherited the villa from his father.
  「藤原頼通は父から別荘を受け継ぎました。」

retreat : 名詞
意味:静かな避難所、休息のための場所。A quiet or private place where one can relax or escape from daily life.
（平等院が「豪華な隠れ家」として使われたという文脈で登場）
例文:

• They went to a mountain retreat for a weekend getaway.
  「彼らは週末に山の避難所に出かけました。」
• Her countryside home is a peaceful retreat.
  「彼女の田舎の家は静かな隠れ家です。」
• The Fujiwara villa served as a luxurious retreat for the family.
  「藤原家の別荘は豪華な隠れ家として使われました。」

sculptor : 名詞
意味:日本語: 彫刻家。An artist who creates sculptures from materials like stone, wood, or metal.
（平等院鳳凰堂の阿弥陀如来像を制作した仏師・定朝を指して使用）
例文:

• The sculptor carved a statue from marble.
  「彫刻家は大理石から像を彫りました。」
• She is a talented sculptor specializing in woodwork.
  「彼女は木工を専門とする才能ある彫刻家です。」
• Jocho was the sculptor who made the Amida Buddha statue.
  「定朝は阿弥陀如来像を制作した彫刻家でした。」

reflection : 名詞
意味:（水面や鏡などに映る）反射像、映像。An image seen in a mirror, water, or any reflective surface.
（鳳凰堂が池に映る美しい光景を指して使用）
例文:

• The mountain’s reflection on the lake was breathtaking.
  「湖に映る山の姿は息をのむほど美しかった。」
• She admired her reflection in the mirror.
  「彼女は鏡に映った自分の姿を眺めました。」
• The pond shows a stunning reflection of the Phoenix Hall.
  「池は鳳凰堂の見事な映像を映し出します。」