Yakushido, Former Hall of the Buddha of Healing 薬師堂(元の薬師如来堂)

Official explanation

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.

Read the full explanation

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

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.