Yellow Immovable

The statue of Acala is one of the "Three Acalas," along with the "Red Acalas" at Myoo-in Temple, Mt. Koya, and the "Blue Acalas" at Shoren-in Temple, Kyoto. Usually, the "Yellow Acalas" refers to the statue of Acalas (national treasure) at Onjo-ji Temple (Mii-dera Temple) in Otsu City. According to the "Enchin Biography of Enchin, Head Priest of the Tendai Sect of Enryaku-ji Temple," in the winter of 838 (Jowa 5), ​​when Chisho Daishi (Enchin) was meditating in a stone niche on Mount Hiei, a golden Acalas appeared and told him to "copy my image and become my devotee." It is said that this painting was commissioned later to be created by an artist with this majestic and dignified figure in mind. Measuring 178.2cm in height and 72.1cm in width, the painting is done in color on silk and depicts a yellowish standing figure holding a sword in his right hand and a lasso in his left, filling the entire screen. It is thought to have been created in the second half of the 9th century. As this Buddha is a secret Buddha, the more widely known version is the Yellow Acala kept at Manshuin Temple in Kyoto, which is said to be a faithful replica.

[Shinichi Nagai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

高野山(こうやさん)明王院(みょうおういん)の「赤不動」、京都・青蓮院(しょうれんいん)の「青不動」とともに「三不動」の一つに数えられる不動明王画像。普通「黄不動」とは大津市園城寺(おんじょうじ)（三井寺(みいでら)）の不動明王画像（国宝）をさす。『天台宗延暦寺座主円珍伝(えんりゃくじざすえんちんでん)』によると、838年（承和5）冬、智証(ちしょう)大師（円珍）が比叡山(ひえいざん)の石龕(せきがん)の中で坐禅三昧(ざぜんざんまい)に入っていると金色の不動明王が現れ、「わが姿を写して帰依(きえ)せよ」と告げた。その魁偉(かいい)にして威光輝くばかりの姿を心にとどめて、のち画工に描かせたのがこの図であるという。縦178.2センチメートル、横72.1センチメートルの絹本着色で、右手に剣、左手に羂索(けんじゃく)を持つ、黄色を帯びた立像を画面いっぱいに描く。制作時期は9世紀後半と考えられる。秘仏であるため、この忠実な模本といわれる京都・曼殊院(まんしゅいん)蔵の黄不動が一般によく知られている。

［永井信一］

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