鞍馬寺（くらまでら）は、京都府京都市左京区鞍馬本町にある仏教寺院。宗派はもと天台宗に属したが、1949年以降独立して鞍馬弘教総本山となっている。山号は鞍馬山。開基（創立者）は、鑑真の高弟鑑禎（がんてい）とされている。本尊は寺では「尊天」と称している。「尊天」とは、毘沙門天、千手観音、護法魔王尊の三身一体の本尊であるという。京都盆地の北に位置し、豊かな自然環境を残す鞍馬山の南斜面に位置する。鞍馬は牛若丸（源義経）が修行をした地として著名であり、大佛次郎の『鞍馬天狗』でも知られる。新西国十九番札所である。なお、鞍馬寺への輸送機関としてケーブルカー（鞍馬山鋼索鉄道）を運営しており、宗教法人としては唯一の鉄道事業者ともなっている。鞍馬寺の草創については、『今昔物語集』、『扶桑略記』など諸書に見られ、延暦15年（796年）、藤原南家の出身で造東寺長官を務めた藤原伊勢人という人物が毘沙門天と千手観音を安置して創建したとされている。しかし、寺に伝わる『鞍馬蓋寺縁起』（あんばがいじえんぎ）には別の草創縁起を伝えており、鑑真の高弟鑑禎（がんてい）が宝亀元年（770年）に草庵を結び、毘沙門天を安置したのが始まりという。鑑禎は、鑑真が唐から伴ってきた高弟8名のうちの最年少であった。宝亀3年（772年）のある夜、鑑禎は霊夢を見、山城国の北方に霊山があると告げられる。霊山を尋ねて出かけた鑑禎は、ある山の上方に宝の鞍を乗せた白馬の姿を見る。その山が鞍馬山であった。山に入った鑑禎は女形の鬼に襲われ殺されそうになるが、あわやという時、枯れ木が倒れてきて鬼はつぶされてしまった。翌朝になると、そこには毘沙門天の像があったので、鑑禎はこれを祀る一寺を建立したという。この鑑禎の話は『鞍馬蓋寺縁起』以外の書物には見えず、どこまで史実を伝えるものかわからない。ただし、清水寺の草創縁起と同様、南都（奈良）の僧が創建にかかわったとしている点は注目される。その後、延暦15年（796年）、官寺である東寺の建設主任であった藤原伊勢人は、自分の個人的に信仰する観音を祀る寺を建てたいと考えていた。伊勢人は、ある夜見た霊夢のお告げにしたがい、白馬の後を追って鞍馬山に着くと、そこには毘沙門天を祀る小堂があった。「自分は観音を信仰しているのに、ここに祀られているのは毘沙門天ではないか」と伊勢人はいぶかしがった。ところが、その晩の夢に1人の童子が現われ、「観音も毘沙門天も名前が違うだけで、実はもともと1つのものなのだ」と告げた。こうして伊勢人は千手観音の像をつくって、毘沙門天とともに安置したという。9世紀末の寛平年間（889年-897年）東寺の僧・峯延（ぶえん）が入寺したころから、鞍馬寺は真言宗寺院となるが、12世紀には天台宗に改宗し、以後の鞍馬寺は長く青蓮院の支配下にあった。寛治5年（1091年）には白河天皇が参詣、承徳3年（1099年）には関白藤原師通が参詣するなど、平安時代後期には広く信仰を集めていたようである。『枕草子』は「近うて遠きもの」の例として鞍馬寺の九十九（つづら）折りの参道を挙げている。鞍馬寺は大治元年（1126年）の火災をはじめとして、たびたび焼失している。江戸時代の文化(元号)9年（1812年）には一山炎上する大火災があり、近代に入って1945年（昭和20年）にも本殿などが焼失している。このため、堂宇はいずれも新しいものだが、仏像などの文化財は豊富に伝えられている。昭和期の住職・信楽香雲（しがらきこううん）は、1947年に鞍馬弘教を開宗。1949年には天台宗から独立して鞍馬弘教総本山となっている。京都の奥にある鞍馬山は山岳信仰、山伏による密教も盛んであった。そのため山の精霊である天狗もまた鞍馬に住むと言われる。鞍馬に住む大天狗は僧正坊と呼ばれる最高位のものでありまた鞍馬山は天狗にとって最高位の山のひとつであるとされる。京都の北に位置する鞍馬寺は、もともと毘沙門天（四天王のうち北方を守護する）を本尊とする寺院であり、併せて千手観世音と護法魔王尊を祀った寺院であった。しかし、鞍馬弘教立教後の現在の鞍馬寺の信仰形態は独特のもので、本尊についても若干の説明を要する。鞍馬弘教立教後の寺の説明によると、鞍馬寺本殿金堂（本堂）の本尊は「尊天」であるとされる。堂内には中央に毘沙門天、向かって右に千手観世音、左には護法魔王尊が安置され、これらの三身を一体として「尊天」と称している。「尊天」とは「すべての生命の生かし存在させる宇宙エネルギー」であるとする。また、毘沙門天を「光」の象徴にして「太陽の精霊」・千手観世音を「愛」の象徴にして「月輪の精霊」・魔王尊を「力」の象徴にして「大地（地球）の霊王」としている。鞍馬寺とは、どこにでも存在する「尊天」のパワーが特に多い場所にして、そのパワーに包まれるための道場であるとしている。「尊天」のひとり、「護法魔王尊」とは、650万年前（「650年」の間違いではない）、金星から地球に降り立ったもので、その体は通常の人間とは異なる元素から成り、その年齢は16歳のまま、年をとることのない永遠の存在であるという。本殿金堂の毘沙門天・千手観世音・護法魔王尊はいずれも秘仏であるが、秘仏厨子の前に「お前立ち」と称する代わりの像が安置されている。お前立ちの魔王尊像は、背中に羽根をもち、長いひげをたくわえた仙人のような姿で、鼻が高い。光背は木の葉でできている。多宝塔に安置の護法魔王尊像も同じような姿をしている。このことから「鞍馬天狗」とはもともと護法魔王尊であったと思われる。また、16歳とされているわりに歳をとった姿をしている。仁王門-1891年（明治24年）焼失し、1911年（明治44年）再建された。山門駅から多宝塔駅までのケーブルカーは1957年（昭和32年）に開通している。多宝塔-1959年（昭和34年）再建。本殿金堂-1971年再建寝殿-1924年（大正13年）の建築。転法輪堂-1969年（昭和44年）再建。奥の院魔王殿-本殿から西の貴船神社へ抜ける山道の途中、奇岩の上にある小堂。650万年前に金星から地球に降り立ったという魔王尊を祀っている。現在の建物は1945年（昭和20年）の焼失後の再建。霊宝殿-本殿裏にある。1階は鞍馬山自然博物苑で、鞍馬山の動植物に関する展示がある。2階は寺宝展示室と与謝野鉄幹・与謝野晶子の遺品等を展示した、与謝野記念室がある（鞍馬弘教を開宗した信楽香雲は与謝野門下の歌人であった）。3階は仏像奉安室で、国宝の木造毘沙門天立像、木造吉祥天立像、木造善膩師童子（ぜんにしどうじ）立像の三尊像をはじめとする文化財が展示されている。鞍馬寺の本尊はこの毘沙門天の三尊像であったとする説や、同じく霊宝館に安置されている平安時代後期の重要文化財兜跋毘沙門天（とばつびしゃもんてん）の姿と近いものでなかったかとする説もある。平安時代中期以降の末法思想から生み出された経塚遺跡からの発掘品も見ることができる。なお、霊宝殿前には与謝野晶子の書斎「冬柏亭」が移築されている。木造毘沙門天立像、木造吉祥天立像、木造善膩師童子（ぜんにしどうじ）立像鞍馬寺経塚遺物一括木造聖観音立像木造兜跋毘沙門天立像黒漆剣剣（無銘）銅燈篭鞍馬寺文書札所新西国三十三箇所第19番しめのうち詣（元旦～1/15）初寅大祭（1月最初の寅の日）節分追儀式（節分の日）春の酬得会（春の彼岸入の日）清浄髪祈願祭（4月上旬）尊天むすび伝法式（4月上旬）花供養（4月中旬）五月満月祭（うえさくさい-五月の満月宵5月の満月の日に行われる）竹伐り会式（たけきりえしき）（6月20日午後2時）如法写経会（8/1～8/4）義経祭(9/15)秋の酬得会（秋の彼岸入の日）秋の大祭(10/14)平和の祈り(11/23)納めの寅（12月再度の寅の日）毎月の御縁日（毎月1.7.14.寅の日）鞍馬の火祭（10月22日）仁王門近くにある由岐神社の祭礼。鞍馬寺主催ではない京都市内から鞍馬寺前まで叡山電鉄出町柳駅から叡山電鉄鞍馬線に乗ると約30分で鞍馬駅に着く。駅を出て徒歩1分で仁王門（山門）に至る。仁王門から本殿金堂まで（徒歩）仁王門(0)-287m-由岐神社(50)-791m-本殿金堂(160)括弧内の数字は仁王門の標高を基準とした標高差（単位m）一部石畳だが基本的に未舗装の山道である。全て歩くとなると成人男性で30分ほどは見ておく必要がある。仁王門から本殿金堂まで（ケーブルカー利用）仁王門（山門駅）(0)-200m-多宝塔駅(120)-456m-本堂金堂(160)括弧内の数字は仁王門の標高を基準とした標高差（単位m）徒歩での参拝は、高齢者などには大変なため、仁王門から多宝塔の間にケーブルカー（鞍馬山鋼索鉄道）を運行している。乗車時間は2分ほどの距離だが、寺に100円の寄付金を納めた人が無料で乗車できる（事実上、運賃が片道100円）。多宝塔から本殿金堂までは10分ほどの石畳を歩く。徒歩での参拝の場合は由岐神社を経由する。なお、寺側は歩くことが可能な人は、ケーブルカーを使わずに徒歩で参拝することを勧めている。貴船側からのアクセス貴船神社(35)-573m-魔王殿(185)-460m-背比べ石(235)-404m-本殿金堂(160)括弧内の数字は仁王門の高さを基準とした標高差（単位m）貴船からの入り口は西門と呼ばれる。このルートはかつて牛若丸が天狗との修行で走った道とされている。山をひとつ越えることになるので鞍馬側から登るより大変である。成人男性でも50分ほどかかる。信楽香仁『天狗の山　くらまだより』、大東出版社、1990井上靖、塚本善隆監修、遠藤周作、信楽香仁著『古寺巡礼京都27　鞍馬寺』、淡交社、1978竹村俊則『昭和京都名所図会洛北』駸々堂、1982『週刊朝日百科　日本の国宝』13号（鞍馬寺ほか）、朝日新聞社、1997『日本歴史地名大系　京都市の地名』、平凡社『角川日本地名大辞典　京都府』、角川書店『国史大辞典』、吉川弘文館

kurama-dera temple is a buddhist temple located in kurama honmachi , sakyo ward , kyoto city , kyoto prefecture .it used to belong to tendai sect , but since 1949 it became independent and is now the head temple of kurama-kokyo sect .sango is mount kurama .it is said to have been established by gantei , a leading disciple of ganjin .in this temple , the honzon ( main image of worship ) is referred to as " sonten . "" sonten " is said to be the honzon that is a trinity of vaisravana , saharabhuja and goho maoson .is located at the north of kyoto basin , on the sourthern slope of mount kurama , where rich natural environment remains .kurama is also famous as the place where ushiwakamaru ( minamoto no yoshitsune ) trained himself , and it is also known as the setting for jiro osaragi 's book , " kurama tengu . "it is the no. 19 new saigoku kannon pilgrimage site .it operates a cable car ( mount kurama cable railway ) transportation to kurama temple , and it is the only religious corporation which operates a railway business .various books including " konjaku monogatarishu " and " fusoryakuki " describe the beginning of kurama temple , and it is said that a person named fujiwara no isendo , who came from fujiwara nanke and served as the head of zoto-ji temple , enshrined vaisravana and sahasrabhuja , and built kurama temple .however , " anbagaiji engi " , handed down for many generations in the temple , tells another story about the start of the temple , which is that gantei , a high disciple of ganjin , built a cottage in the 1st year of hoki , and enshrined vaisravana .gantei was the youngest among the eight high disciples who ganjin brought back with him from tang ( present day china ) .one night , in the third year of hoki , gantei saw a spiritual dream , which told him that there is a spiritual mountain in the north of yamashiro province .gantei , who set off to visit the spiritual mountain , saw a white horse with a saddle made by treasures on top of a mountain .that was mount kurama .gantei , on entering the mountain , was attacked and nearly killed by an ogre who took the form of a woman , but when he was in extreme danger , a dead tree fell down and crushed the ogre .the next morning , a statue of vaisravana was there , and it is said that gantei built a temple to worship this statue .this story about gantei is only seen in " anbagaiji engi " , and it is not clear how far it tells an actual historical event .nevertheless , it is notable that a priest of south capital ( nara ) took part in establishing the temple , as in the case of the establishment of kiyomizutemple .later , in 796 , fujiwara no isendo , who was in charge of building an official temple , to-ji temple , wished to build a temple to place a kannon that he personally worshiped .isendo , in accordance with a message revealed to him in a spiritual dream one night , followed a white horse and arrived at mount kurama , upon which he saw a small shrine that housed vaisravana .isendo became suspicious saying , " i worship kannon , but it is vaisravana that is worshipped here . "however , in his dream that night , a child appeared and told him that " kannon and vaisravana have different names , but fundamentally they are one and the same . "thus it is said that isendo made a statue of sahasrabhuja and enshrined it together with vaisravana .kurama-dera temple became a temple of shingon sect from around the time when priest buen of to-ji temple entered kurama temple during kanpyo era ( from 889 to 897 ) at the end of the 9th century , but it changed to tendai sect in the 12th century ; since then it has been under the control of shoren-in for a long time .it appears to have attracted worshippers widely during the latter half of heian period , as can seen by the fact that emperor shirakawa came to worship in 1091 and moromichi fujiwara , the kanpaku , in 1099 ." the pillow book " names the front approach of ninety-nine prayers of kurama temple as an example of " something which is near but also far " .kurama temple has been burned down many times , including by the fire of year 1126 .in 1812 ( ninth year of bunka of edo period ) , there was a great fire that engulfed the whole mountain in flames , and more recently , the main shrine was burned down by a fire in year 1945 .therefore , all the buildings are new , but many cultural properties such as statues of the buddha have been preserved .koun shigaraki , a chief priest in the showa era , started kurama-kokyo sect in 1947 .in 1949 the temple became independent from tendai sect and is now the head temple of kurama-kokyo sect .in mount kurama , located in the mountains of kyoto , mountain ascetic hermits actively practiced vajrayana buddhism .therefore , it is said that tengus , who are spirits of the mountains , live in kurama .the highest-ranking tengu that lives in kurama is called sojobo , and mount kurama is said to be one of the most supreme mountains for tengu .kurama-dera temple , located north of kyoto , was initially a temple with vaisravana ( of the four heavenly kings , the king protecting the north-side ) as its honzon , and it also enshrined saharabhuja and goho maoson .however , form of worship at the current kurama temple after the establishment of kurama-kokyo is unique , and some explanation is necessary regarding its honzon .according to the explanation by the temple after the establishment of kurama-kokyo , the honzon of kurama temple main shrine golden hall ( the main shrine ) is said to be " sonten . "within the shrine , vaisravana is enshrined in the center , saharabhuja is on the right side facing it , and goho maoson on the left side , and the three are collectively referred to as " sonten . "" sonten " is said to be " the cosmic energy that gives lfe and existence . "moreover , vaisravana represents the spirit of sunlight that symbolizes " light " saharabhujarepresents the sprit of moonlight that symbolizes " love " , and maoson represents the spiritual king of earth that symbolizes " power . "the power of " sonten " is believed to exist everywhere , and since this power is especially strong in this area kurama-dera temple is said to be a place of practice where one can be surrounded by such power .it is said that goho maoson , one of the sonten , came to earth from venus 6.5 million years ago ( not " 650 years " ago ) ; its body is formed from elements different from those ordinary human beings , and it is said to be in an eternal existence at the age of 16 and it does not age .vaisravana , saharabhuja and goho maoson that are enshrined in golden hall of the main shrine are all secret buddha statues [ not open for public viewing ] ; in their stead statues referred to as " omae-dachi " are enshrined in front of these secret buddha statues .omae-dachi maoson statue looks like an unworldly person , with wings on its back , and a long beard , and has a high nose .the aureola is made from tree leaves .goho maoson enshrined in two-storied pagoda has a similar form .therefore , it is believed that " kurama tengu " was initially goho maoson .although it is said to be 16 years old , it looks aged .nio-mon was burned down in 1891 , and rebuilt in 1911 .the cable car from sanmon station to tahoto station started operating in 1957 .tahoto was rebuilt in 1959 .great hall was rebuilt in year 1971 .shinden was built in 1924 .tenhorindo hall was rebuilt in 1969 .mao-den of penetralia is a small shrine on top of a oddly-shaped rock located on a mountain road on the way from the main shrine to kibune shrine in the west .it enshrines maoson , which is said to have arrived on earth from venus 6.5 million years ago .the current building was rebuilt after being burnt down in 1945 .reihoden hall is located at the back of the main shrine .on the 1st floor there is kuramayama museum , which has an exhibition of the animals and plants of mount kurama .the 2nd floor houses temple treasure exhibit room and yosano memorial hall , which exhibits articles , and other items left by tekkan yosano and akiko yosano ( koun shigaraki , who started kurama-kokyo sect , was a poet who studied under the yosano 's ) .on the 3rd floor there is a sanctuary of buddhist statues , which exhibits cultural properties including three standing statues : wooden statue of bishamonten , wooden statue of kosshouten , and wooden statue of zennishi-doji .there is a view that the honzon of kurama-dera temple were these three statues of bishamonten , and there is another view that the honzon probably looked similar to the tobatsu-bishamonten of the latter half of heian era , which is an important cultural property ; this statue is also enshrined in reihoden hall .articles excavated from the ruin of kyozuka , which are items born from the idea of the latter day of the law during the latter half of the heian period can also be seen here .also , akiko yosano 's library , named " tohaku-tei " , has been moved from its original location and reconstructed in front of reihoden hall .wooden statue of bishamonten , wooden statue of kosshouten , and wooden statue of zennishi-doji .kurama-dera temple , kyozuka , summary of relicswooden statue of kannonwooden statue of bishamontenblack lacquer swordsword ( without the maker 's name )copper lanternkurama documentsfudashono. 19 of new saigoku 33 kannon pilgrimage sitesshimenouchi mode ( from new year 's day until january 15th )hatsutora taisai ( the first day of the tiger in january )setsubun tsuina ceremony ( the day of setsubun )spring shutoku-kai ( the day of spring equinox )shojohatsu kigan ceremony ( early april )soten musubidenpo ceremony ( early april )hanakuyo ( mid april )uesaku-sai ( conducted in the evening of a full moon in may , on the day of a full moon in may )takekirieshiki ( 2p.m. of june 20th )nyoho shakyo / sutra copying gathering ( august 1st to august 4th )yoshitsune matsuri ( september 15th )autumn shutoku-kai ( autumnal equinox day )autumn festival ( october 14th )prayer for peace ( november 23rd )osame no tora ( the 2nd day of the tiger in december )go-ennichi of each month ( 1st , 7th and 14th of each month , day of the tiger ) .kuramo no himatsuri / kurama fire festival ( october 22nd ) is a festival of yuki shrine , located close to nio-mon .this is not sponsored by kurama-dera temple .from within kyoto city to the front of kurama temple .from demachiyanagi station of eizan electric railway , kurama line , it takes approximately 30 minutes to arrive at kurama station .it takes 1 minute by foot to go from the station to nio-mon ( main gate ) .from nio-mon to main shrine golden hall ( on foot ) .nio-mon ( 0 ) - 287m - yuki shrine ( 50 ) - 791m - main shrine golden hall ( 160 )the numbers in brackets are altitude measurements based on that of nio-mon ( unit : m ) .the road is basically unpaved mountain road , although it is partially paved by stone .it will take a grown man about 30 minutes to travel all the way on foot .from nio-mon to main shrine golden hall ( by cable car ) .nio-mon ( sanmon station ) ( 0 ) - 200m - tahoutou station ( 120 ) - 456m - main shrine golden hall ( 160 )the numbers in brackets are altitudes measurements based on that of nio-mon ( unit : m ) .because it is hard to visit and worship on foot for the elderly people , cable car ( mount kurama cable railway ) is operates between nio-mon and two-storied pagoda .the time spent in the cable car is only about 2 minutes , and those who contribute 100 yen to the temple can ride the cable car for free ( essentially , the fare is 100 yen one way ) .from the two-storied pagoda to main shrine golden hall , you need to walk about 10 minutes on a stone paved road .if you are visiting and worshipping on foot , you need to go via yuki shrine .the temple encourages people who can walk the distance , not to use the cable car and visit and worship the temple on foot .access from kibune sidekibune shrine ( 35 ) - 573m - mao-den ( 185 ) - 460m - sekurabe ishi ( 235 ) - 404m - main shrine golden hall ( 160 )the numbers in brackets are altitudes measurements based on that of nio-mon ( unit : m ) .the entrance from kibune side is called nishi-mon .this route is said to be the route that ushiwakamaru ran , when he trained with tengu .as you will be crossing one mountain , it will be harder than climbing from the kurama side .it will take about 50 minutes on foot , even for a grown man .author : koun shigaraki " tengu no yama – kurama dayori / mountain of tengu – kurama newsletter " issued by daito publishing , year 1990 edition .supervised by yasushi inoue and zenryu tsukamoto , written by shusaku endo and koun shigaraki " pilgrimage of old temple , kyoto 27 kurama temple " published by tankosha publishingauthor : toshinori takemura " showa kyoto landmark guide , rakuhoku " published by shinshindo , year 1982 edition ." shukan asahi hyakka – national treasures of japan " issue no. 13 ( kurama temple and others ) published by asahi shimbun , year 1997 edition ." japanese history place names - place names of kyoto city " published by heibonsha" kadokawa japanese place names dictionary – kyoto prefecture " published by kadokawa shoten" national history dictionary " published by yoshikawa kobunkan .