Ishiyama

A district in the southern part of Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Formerly Ishiyama Town. A famous scenic spot, Ishiyama-dera Temple is also famous for its "Autumn Moon at Ishiyama," one of the Eight Views of Omi. Within the temple grounds, there is an exposed siliceous rock (a national natural monument), which is said to be the origin of the name Ishiyama. There are ruins such as the Ishiyama Shell Mound and the Hotarudani Shell Mound, and it is said that there was also a provincial temple. It is also the place where the Hora Palace, a detached palace of Empress Kōken, was built. During the Nara period, Ishiyama-in Temple was established to handle the transportation of timber to places such as Heijo-kyō, and this Ishiyama-in Temple became the predecessor of Ishiyama-dera Temple. During the Heian period, Ishiyama-dera Temple attracted the faith of the imperial family, aristocrats, and common people as a training center for the Shingon sect, and "Ishiyama pilgrimages" were very popular. As a key transportation point, it was often the site of battles, and small forts were also built there. In the early modern period, it belonged to the Zeze Domain. The Keihan Electric Railway and National Route 422 run through the area, and the Ishiyama Interchange on the Keiji Bypass is located here. The northern part of the area has become an industrial district, but the southern part of the area is home to Ishiyama-dera Temple, Iwamadera Temple, Tachiki Kannon Temple, Nango Araizeki Weir, the Fisheries Center, and the Otsu (Ishiyama) Campus of Shiga University. It is also close to the Keihanshin area, and in recent years has seen significant residential development.

[Seiichi Takahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

滋賀県大津市南部の一地区。旧石山町。近江八景(おうみはっけい)の一つ「石山の秋月」でも著名な景勝の地。石山寺山内には硅灰石(けいかいせき)の露出（国の天然記念物）がみられるが、これが石山の名のおこりという。石山貝塚、蛍谷(ほたるだに)貝塚などの遺跡があり、国分寺もあったという。孝謙(こうけん)天皇の離宮保良宮(ほらのみや)の造営が伝えられる地でもある。奈良時代には平城京などへの木材運搬をつかさどる石山院が設立され、この石山院が石山寺の前身となった。平安時代には石山寺は真言宗の道場として皇室、貴族、庶民の信仰を集め、「石山詣(もう)で」が盛んであった。交通の要衝であるため、しばしば合戦場となり、小城砦(じょうさい)なども設けられた。近世には膳所(ぜぜ)藩に属した。京阪電鉄、国道422号が通じ、京滋バイパスの石山インターチェンジがある。北部は工業地区になったが、南部には石山寺のほかに岩間寺、立木観音、南郷洗堰(あらいぜき)、水産センター、滋賀大学大津（石山）キャンパスなどがある。また京阪神に近く、近年は宅地化も著しい。

［高橋誠一］

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