来る6月3日参拝奉仕の大トリのお木曳（きひき）行事
(The Grand Finale of the Pilgrimage Service: The Okihiki Ceremony on June 3)

平成19年4月号掲載
(Originally published in the April 2007 issue)

　昨年の5月27日、降りしきる雨の中を伊勢の二見浦に鎮まります二見興玉（ふたみおきたま）神社に浜参宮という名のもとに参り集った私たちは、翌28日の式年遷宮お木曳行事に“一日神領民”として参拝奉仕するための“無垢塩（むくしお）祓い”というお祓いを受けました。この神社にたどりつくまでの、海辺の岩を切り開いてできた参道を進むお互いは、上からの雨、下から吹き上げる潮水で、まさに祓いに祓われ足もとがずぶぬれになりながらも、どの顔もにこやかで明日への期待で輝いていました。

On May 27 of last year, in the midst of pouring rain, we gathered at Futami Okitama Shrine, which rests quietly by the shore at Futamiura in Ise, for a rite called Hama Sangū 浜参宮. In preparation for serving the next day as “one-day parishoners of the sacred domain” during the Okihiki お木曳 ceremony of the Shikinen Sengū 式年遷宮, we received a purification known as Muku-shio harai 無垢塩祓い (“purification with pure salt”).
The approach to the shrine, carved through seaside rocks, was itself a trial of purification: rain falling from above, seawater surging from below, soaking our feet completely. Yet every face shone with smiles and anticipation for the day to come.

　1,300余年の歴史を数える20年ごとのこの式年遷宮において、すべて建て替えられる内宮（ないくう）外宮（げくう）をはじめ各御社（やしろ）の御用材は、その多くが長野県の山深くで300年余りを経（へ）た檜（ひのき）、まさに“日の木”で、これらが切り出されて伊勢に運ばれ、最後は伊勢の町衆＝神領民＝の手によってのお木曳車で運びこまれるのが伝統となっています。それが、全国の心ある人にも“一日神領民”としてこの奉仕の場をと地元の方々の肝入りで始まり、前回の第61回式年遷宮のお木曳行事に本教も初めて参拝奉仕の場をいただいたのでした。800余名のお道づれの皆様と私は母と家内、長男（現副教主）のいわば3世代でおつとめでき、この感激を今回もと、昨年は、私たち夫婦に息子たち娘そしてその連れ合い、さらに6人の孫も一緒に奉仕ができました。

This Shikinen Sengū, held every twenty years for more than 1,300 years, involves the complete rebuilding of the Inner Shrine (Naikū 内宮), the Outer Shrine (Gekū 外宮), and other sanctuaries. The sacred timber used for construction is mostly hinoki cypress, grown for over 300 years deep in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture—literally “the tree of the sun.” These timbers are cut, transported to Ise, and finally carried into the shrine precincts on Okihiki carts, pulled by the townspeople—the sacred parishioners of Ise.
In recent times, thanks to the initiative of the local community, people from across the country have also been welcomed to participate as “one-day sacred parishioners.” During the 61st Shikinen Sengū, Kurozumikyō was granted the honor of joining this service for the first time. Together with more than 800 fellow pilgrims, I was able to serve alongside my mother, my wife, and my eldest son (now the Vice Chief Patriarch)—three generations united in devotion.
Moved by that experience, we resolved to continue. Last year, my wife and I were joined not only by our sons and daughters and their spouses, but also by six grandchildren, all serving together in this sacred work.

　当日5月28日は、伊勢市内での御日拝もしとつく雨の中でしたし、バスが宿を出発したときも雨は止（や）んでいませんでした。ところが、市の中心部の集合場所に近づくにつれて雨は止み、雲の切れ間さえ見えてきました。5月から6月にかけて土曜日曜日ごとに全国から何万人もの方々が馳（は）せ参じてのこのお木曳行事ですが、今回は雨の日が多く、それだけ迎えてお世話される地元の方々のご苦労も大変だっただけに、この人たちの雨の上がったことを喜ぶ姿は私たち以上でした。私を入れて1,501名の“黒住教奉曳（ほうえい）団”が、市長さんや町衆代表の方のご挨拶（あいさつ）のもとに正式に結成され、いよいよ“エンヤー、エンヤー”のかけ声も勇ましくお木曳車は静かに動き始めました。その時を待っていたかのごとく朝のご陽光が降り注ぎ始め、一同の心はいよいよ高鳴ってきました。リーダーのエンヤーのかけ声の中に、たくましいが可愛い声が聞こえてきました。それは小学校5、6年生くらいの男子のかけ声で、この子が20年後には全体のリーダーとして町のお兄さん方のようにつとめるのかと思うと胸が熱くなりました。いつの間にか、私の孫の1人がその男の子につられてマイクを手に、一緒にエンヤーとやっているのが目に入り、またまた私の心は熱くなりました。

On May 28, the day itself, even Nippai 日拝(the morning sunrise worship) in Ise City took place under steady rain, and when our bus departed from the lodging the rain had not yet stopped. Yet, as we approached the central gathering place of the city, the rain ceased, and even breaks in the clouds began to appear.
From May into June, tens of thousands of people from across Japan gather each weekend for this Okihiki ceremony. This time, however, many of the days had been rainy, which made the work of the local hosts all the more difficult. Precisely because of that, their joy at seeing the rain lift was greater than ours.
Our “Kurozumikyō Hōei Group,” numbering 1,501 including myself, was formally constituted under greetings from the mayor and representatives of the townspeople. Then, with the vigorous chants of “Enya! Enya!”, the Okihiki cart began to move quietly forward. At that very moment, as if waiting for it, the morning sunlight poured down, and everyone’s hearts swelled with excitement.
Amid the leader’s chant of Enya, a strong yet endearing voice could be heard—it was the call of a boy, perhaps in the fifth or sixth grade. Thinking that in twenty years this child might serve as the leader of the whole group, just like the older youths of the town, my heart was deeply moved.
Before I knew it, one of my own grandchildren, caught up by that boy’s example, had taken the microphone and was shouting Enya together with him. Seeing this, my heart was warmed yet again.

　上は96歳から下は3歳に至るまさに老若男女が2本の白い縄を曳（ひ）いてのひとときは、それが伊勢神宮の式年遷宮の主要な行事のひとつだけに、それぞれの心の奥深くから湧（わ）き出る日本人の血ともいうべきものが一人ひとりに大きな力となることを確信しました。私はお道づれの多くの方から声をかけていただきましたが、中でも四国今治からの方に、東京に住まう息子さん夫婦とお孫さんとの3世代の奉仕を知らされたとき、思わず「これが本当の教育です！」と申し上げたことでした。今日、子供の塾通いはもとよりスポーツ、音楽、バレエ等、子供の心身の成長のためのいわゆる“教育投資”は親の懐（ふところ）を揺るがせ続けていますが、何をさておいても子供のためにはと“投資”を続ける家の多いのはご承知の通りです。しかし人間として、日本人としての“根っこ”“土台”づくりを忘れていわば“上物”づくりだけに終始しているように思えてならなかった折から、この方の東京から息子さん夫婦お孫さんを呼んでの参拝奉仕は、私にとって大きな感動でした。

From the eldest at ninety-six to the youngest at just three years old, men and women of all ages joined together to pull the two white ropes. Because this is one of the central rites of the Shikinen Sengū of Ise Jingu, I felt certain that what stirred in each person’s heart was nothing less than the deep lifeblood of the Japanese people, giving strength to every individual.
Many fellow participants spoke with me, but one encounter especially moved me. A man from Imabari in Shikoku told me that his son and daughter-in-law, who live in Tokyo, had come with their child so that three generations could serve together. Without thinking, I exclaimed: “This is true education!”
Today, children are sent not only to cram schools but also to sports, music, ballet, and countless other lessons. Such “educational investments” continue to weigh heavily on parents’ finances, and many households persist in spending for the sake of their children. Yet I cannot help but feel that too often this effort is devoted only to building the “upper structure,” while neglecting the “roots” and “foundation” of what it means to be human, and to be Japanese.
That is why the sight of this family, calling their son and grandchild from Tokyo to join them in the sacred service, was for me a profound inspiration.

　ほぼ1時間の奉仕を終えてお木曳車が外宮の杜（もり）に到着したとき、私はリーダーの方に促されて皆様にご挨拶し、「来年もつとめようではありませんか」と呼びかけました。その時の皆様の一斉に発せられた「ハイッ」の一声は、大きな固まりとなって私にはもとより地元伊勢の人々の心にも強く響いたようです。それは幹部の方々が後日ご挨拶にといって大教殿にお参りになったときも、さらに今年1月22日の新春恒例の参宮のときにも教えられました。そして、「“一日神領民”のお木曳行事奉仕の最終日である6月3日、それも1日3本を奉曳する3本目を、ぜひとも黒住教の皆さんとつとめて終了としたい」との有り難いご提案をいただいたのでした。

After nearly an hour of service, when the Okihiki cart arrived at the sacred grove of the Outer Shrine (Gekū), I was encouraged by the leader to address everyone. I called out: “Let us serve again next year!” The resounding chorus of “Yes!” that came back as one voice struck me deeply, and I believe it also touched the hearts of the people of Ise.
Later, when senior representatives of Ise’s parishioners visited Daikyōden 大教殿(the Main Shrine of Kurozumikyō) to offer their greetings, and again during our customary New Year pilgrimage to Ise Jingu on January 22 of this year, I was reminded of that moment. On those occasions, we received a gracious proposal: that the final day of the “one-day sacred parishioners’” Okihiki service—June 3, and specifically the third cart of the day—should be entrusted to the members of Kurozumikyō, so that the ceremony might conclude with our participation.

　「どちらからおいでになる方々も、皆様一生懸命おつとめ下さいますが、黒住教の方々はちょっと違います。やはり教祖様のときからの200年の伝統でしょうか」と言われました。

Someone remarked to me: “Wherever they come from, all participants serve with devotion, but the members of Kurozumikyō are somehow different. Perhaps it is because you have the 200 years of tradition since the time of the Revered Founder.”

　この日6月3日は、奇しくも2年前の平成17年6月3日、御杣始祭（みそまはじめさい）の執り行われた日に当たります。それは、ご遷座のための御神木である檜を、長野県の山深い所で伐採するための御祭りで、この日、池田厚子祭主様、北白川道久大宮司様はじめ皆々様参列参拝のもとに厳かに斎行されました。いわばこの日を皮切りに御用材の御神木は次々と伊勢に運ばれ、お木曳車に載せられてのお木曳行事となっているのです。

This June 3 was, by coincidence, the very same date two years earlier—June 3, 2005—when the Misoma-hajime-sai 御杣始祭(Festival of the First Sacred Timber) was held. That rite marked the beginning of felling the sacred cypress trees, the divine timber for the transfer of the deity, deep in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. On that day, with Chief Priestess Ikeda Atsuko, High Priest Kitashirakawa Michihisa, and many others present, the ceremony was solemnly conducted.
From that day onward, the sacred timber was successively transported to Ise, placed upon the Okihiki carts, and carried in the Okihiki ceremonies.

　1月22日、幹部の方のご案内を得てお連れいただいたのは、お木曳車に6本の御神木がまさに山積みされた所でした。聞けば東京のその名も六本木ヒルズで、式年遷宮を1人でも多くの日本人に伝えるためにお木曳行事のデモンストレーションを行うのだという、その稽古（けいこ）の場でした。私は改めて伊勢の町衆の方々の熱い心に感心するとともに、自らの内にまた新しい熱いものが湧き上がるのを感じたことでした。

On January 22, guided by senior leaders, we were taken to a place where six sacred cypress logs were piled high upon an Okihiki cart. I was told that this was in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills, where a demonstration of the Okihiki ceremony was being rehearsed, so that Shikinen Sengū might be conveyed to as many Japanese people as possible. I was deeply impressed by the fervent spirit of the townspeople of Ise, and within myself I felt a new fire rising again.

伊勢市の地元の方々にこのように熱く迎えてもらいお世話いただく6月3日のお木曳行事に、ぜひとも皆様、次世代さらに次々世代とともに参拝奉仕しようではありませんか。

Having been welcomed so warmly and cared for by the people of Ise, I call upon all of you: let us join together in the Okihiki ceremony of June 3, serving in worship not only with our own generation, but with the next and the one after that.