2つの関東大震災と鎌倉（鎌倉国宝館） Two Great Kanto Earthquakes and Kamakura (Kamakura Kokuhoukan Museum)

今年は1923年に関東大震災が発生してからちょうど100年にあたり、関東の各地の博物館や美術館で展覧会や企画展示が行われている。

鎌倉においても、その際には多くの歴史的な寺社で大きな被害を受けた。

鎌倉国宝館で行われたこの特別展では、関東大震災で被害にあい、その後修復された宝物が展示されていた。

北条時頼坐像、明庵栄西坐像、夢窓疎石像、地蔵菩薩立像など、この鎌倉国宝館のお馴染みの展示物で、これまで何度も目にしてきたそうした宝物が、関東大震災で被害を受けて修復されていたことを、この展覧会で初めて知った。

また今年は江戸時代に起きた元禄地震から320年にもなるという。当時の被害や修復の記録なども併せて展示されていた。

地震や火災が多いこの国において、貴重な品々が今日まで守り続けてこられたことの背景には、多くの人々のそうした宝物を守り続けてきた隠れた努力があったことを知ることができた。

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and exhibitions and special exhibitions are being held at museums and galleries throughout the Kanto region.

Even in Kamakura, many historical temples and shrines suffered great damage at that time.

In this special exhibition held at the Kamakura National Treasure Museum, treasures that were damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake and subsequently restored were on display.

A seated statue of Hojo Tokiyori, a seated statue of Meian Eisai, a statue of Muso Soseki, a standing statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, and other familiar exhibits at this Kamakura National Treasure Museum. It was at this exhibition that I learned for the first time that it had been restored.

Also, this year marks 320 years since the Genroku earthquake that occurred in the Edo period. Records of damage and restoration at that time were also exhibited.

In this country, where earthquakes and fires frequently occur, I was able to learn that behind the fact that valuable items have been preserved to this day, there was a hidden effort by many people to continue to protect such treasures.