Kitayama Juhachikendo

Japanese: 北山十八間戸 - きたやまじゅうはちけんど

<br /> This welfare facility in Kawakami-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, provided protection and relief for people with serious illnesses such as leprosy. It is located on a hill near Narazaka, a road leading to Kyoto. It is said to have been founded by Ninsho , a monk from Saidaiji Temple who was active during the Kamakura period. It was originally located northeast of Hannya-ji Temple, which is located to the north, but was burned down in the Miyoshi-Matsunaga Rebellion in 1567 (Eiroku 10). It was moved to its current location during the Kanbun period (1661-1673) and renovated in 1693 (Genroku 6). It is a long, narrow tenement house that runs north to south, with a gabled roof and tiled roof. In 1921 (Taisho 10), it was designated a national historic site as it was considered important in considering the history of social work in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period. The building is about 38 meters from east to west, and the interior is divided into 18 rooms. Each room is about 2 tatami mats in size, and there is a Buddhist altar room at the eastern end. There is a Buddhist altar on a raised platform in the Buddhist altar room, a vertical inscription reading "Kitayama Juhachikento" on the back door, the former kitchen on the east side, and a garden and two wells on the south side. It is said that a total of 18,000 detainees were provided with food, clothing and shelter here. From Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line, take the Nara Kotsu bus to "Imazaike" and walk for about 3 minutes.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

奈良県奈良市川上町にあるハンセン病などの重病者を保護・救済した福祉施設。京都に抜ける街道の奈良坂に近い丘陵上に所在する。鎌倉時代に活躍した西大寺の僧忍性(にんしょう)の創建とされ、当初は北方にある般若寺の東北にあったが、1567年（永禄10）の三好・松永の乱で焼失したものを寛文年間（1661～73年）に現在地に移し、1693年（元禄6）に修築された。南北に細長い棟割り長屋で、切り妻造りの本瓦葺き。1921年（大正10）に、中・近世における社会事業史を考察するうえで重要とされ、国の史跡に指定された。建物は東西約38mあり、内部は18室に区切られている。1室の広さは2畳ほどで、東端には仏間がある。仏間には一段高く仏壇があり、裏戸には「北山十八間戸」と縦書きの銘が、東側にはもと炊事場があり、南側には庭園と井戸2ヵ所が残されている。ここで衣食住を提供された収容者の数は、延べ1万8000人といわれる。近畿日本鉄道奈良線近鉄奈良駅から奈良交通バス「今在家」下車、徒歩約3分。

出典　講談社国指定史跡ガイドについて　情報

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