It is an illustration about description of the portion “或遭王難苦臨刑欲寿終念彼観音力刀尋段段壊(wakusouounanku-ringyouyokujyusyuu-nenpikannonriki-toujinndanndanne).”
It is a right half of on the convenience of a layout, and the inside divided into two.
The continuation of a picture should look at Kannonkyouwakunzue / lower volume / 5.
The title of an illustration is “virtuous deed Morihisa of the Kannon is saved in difficulty.”The following is the comment of an illustration part.
“Morihisa Taira who is Heike’s samurai has believed in the Kanzeon for years.
普門品 (Fumonbon) was recited every day and it did not neglect for one day.
After Heike is ruined, the Morihisa is arrested by Genji and becomes that a head is likely to be hit.
Then, though seat carried out on matting, the Goddess of Mercy was prayed absorbedly.
Even if it would die from the world with a sword even if, in the next world, sutra recitation was continued in the mouth as advance to the way to a paradise.
Just before the sword of the executioner is brandished and Morihisa’s head is cut off.
A golden light shone only for a moment.
Although he is surprised with whether it is what, the executioner tries to cut off a head again.
Then, light shone similarly and the hand with a sword has been numbed. ”
“This is reported to the role of inspection, and although it tries to change and cut people, light continues shining and going wrong.
The role of inspection it was thought that was strange still more questions Morihisa whether to have a Buddha statue etc.
Morihisa answers.
It does not have such elegance etc.
However, Fumonbon was only read out. ”
“The role of inspection thought that it was the result of the divine protection of the Goddess of Mercy, postponed execution, and looked for judgment to Kamakura.
Since Yoritomo Minamotono believed in the Lotus Sutra deeply from the first, he believed the divine protection of the Buddha.
Then, Morihisa’s death penalty will be allowed at last and a life will be helped. ”
「或遭王難苦臨刑欲寿終念彼観音力刀尋段段壊」という部分の解説に関する挿絵です。レイアウトの都合上、二つに分けたうちの右半分です。絵の続きは観音経和訓図会/下巻/5をご覧下さい。
挿絵のタイトルは「観音の功徳 盛久が難を救われる」です。以下が挿絵部分の解説です。
「平家の侍である平盛久は長年、観世音を信仰していた。毎日普門品（ふもんぼん）を読経し、一日も怠ることがなかった。その盛久が、平家が滅びた後に源氏に捕らえられて首を刎ねられそうになる。その時、敷物の上に座らされながらも一心に観世音を念じた。たとえ現世で刀で死ぬ事になっても、来世では浄土への道に進めるようにと口の中で読経を続けた。処刑人の太刀が振り上げられ、盛久の首が切り落とされる寸前。一瞬だけ金色の光がきらめいた。何事かと驚きつつも、処刑人は再び首を切り落とそうとする。すると、同じように光がきらめき、刀を持つ手が痺れてきた。」
「このことを検使に報告し、人を替えて切ろうとするが光がきらめき失敗し続ける。いよいよおかしなことだと感じた検使は、盛久に仏像などを持っていないかと問いただす。盛久は答える。そのような品など持っていない。ただ、普門品を読み上げていただけだ。」
「検使は観世音の加護のせいだと考え、処刑を延期して鎌倉に判断を仰いだ。源頼朝はもともと法華経を深く信仰していたので、仏の加護を信じた。そこで、ついに盛久の死罪を許し、命を助けることになった。」
