Zen and wood-fired sauna fuse to create a new experience space at Daitaiji, an ancient temple in Kumano.
禅を広めた達磨大師をモチーフにしたアートワーク
和歌山県那智勝浦町の古刹・大泰寺に、坐禅とサウナを組み合わせた新たな体験空間が誕生した。臨済宗の禅寺として1200年の歴史を持つ同寺が、心身を整える場として本格フィンランド式の薪サウナを導入した。
A new experience space combining zazen and sauna was created at Daitai-ji, an ancient temple in Nachikatsuura-cho, Wakayama Prefecture. The temple, which has a 1,200-year history as a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, has introduced an authentic Finnish-style wood-fired sauna as a place to regulate body and mind.
サウナは「ロウリュウの法則」に基づく設計で、地元・和歌山県の木材を活用して建築された。空間デザインには、達磨大師が悟りを得たとされる洞窟をモチーフに、禅の象徴性を取り入れた。また、天然井戸水を使用した水風呂や本堂横の外気浴スペースも備え、五感を開放する構成となっている。
The sauna was designed based on the “Law of the Lowryu” and was constructed using wood from Wakayama Prefecture, the temple’s hometown. The space design incorporates Zen symbolism with a motif of a cave where the great Zen master Daruma is said to have attained enlightenment. It is also equipped with a water bath using natural well water and an open-air bathing space next to the main building to open up the five senses.
大泰寺は熊野古道沿いに位置し、「七薬師」の第一古道場としても知られる。薬師如来への信仰と坐禅の修行に力を注いできたが、近年は参拝者の減少が課題となっていた。西山十海住職は、「安心（あんじん）の心を得る坐禅と、“整う”体験は通じる」と語り、坐禅と親和性の高いサウナに着目。より多くの人々が癒やしを得られる場を目指し、この取り組みを始めた。
Dai Taiji is located along the Kumano Kodo, and is known as the first of the “Seven Medicine Temples”. The temple has been devoted to the worship of Yakushi Nyorai and the practice of zazen (Zen meditation), but in recent years the number of visitors has been declining. Jukai Nishiyama, the chief abbot of the temple, said, “Zazen, which is the practice of gaining peace of mind, and the experience of getting in shape,” and focused his attention on sauna, which has a strong affinity with zazen. He started this initiative with the aim of creating a place where more people can experience healing.
サウナの利用は、日帰りと宿坊宿泊者向けの2プランを用意。宿泊者には早朝の坐禅体験も提供される。サウナ室は完全貸切制で、水着にも対応し、タオル類も用意される。
Two plans are available for sauna use: a one-day plan and a plan for lodger guests. Guests will also be offered an early morning zazen experience. The sauna room is completely private and swimsuits are available, and towels are provided.
禅の精神と地域資源が交わるこの取り組みは、熊野を訪れる海外旅行者のみならず、国内のサウナ愛好家にも新たな関心を呼ぶ可能性がある。
This initiative, which combines the spirit of Zen with local resources, is likely to attract new interest not only from overseas visitors to Kumano, but also from sauna enthusiasts in Japan.
詳細はこちら
