宗忠神社御神幸（ごしんこう）あれこれ
(Many Things about the Munetada Shrine Divine Procession)

平成20年3月号掲載(Published in March 2008 issue)

その由来
　教祖宗忠神がご降誕になりご立教になった霊地大元に、明治18年（1885）4月、宗忠神社は竣工なりました。その翌19年、御神幸は始まりました。時の孝明天皇から宗忠大明神の神号を賜って、京都の吉田山は神楽岡に、宗忠神社が文久2年（1862）にご鎮座になり、孝明天皇の勅願所（ちょくがんしょ）にまでなって以来、待ちに待った大元・宗忠神社のご鎮座でした。

Origin
At Ōmoto 大元, the sacred place where the Divine Founder Munetada was born and established the faith, Munetada Shrine 宗忠神社 was completed in April 1885 (Meiji 18). The following year, in 1886, the Divine Procession began.
Earlier, in 1862 (Bunkyū 2), Munetada Shrine had been enshrined at Kaguraoka 神楽岡 on Mount Yoshida in Kyoto, having received from Emperor Kōmei the divine title Munetada Daimyōjin 宗忠大明神. That shrine even became an imperial prayer site (chokugansho 勅願所). Thus, the enshrinement of Munetada Shrine at Ōmoto was long awaited and deeply significant.

　ご在世中の「黒住大先生」は、「教祖（おしえのみおや）の神」と仰（あお）がれ、また「宗忠大明神」という最高の神号を天皇陛下から賜ったのです。かつて神職としてお仕えになった今村宮の御斎神に、今は宗忠大明神として祀（まつ）られる教祖神を、お引き合わせしようとする先輩方の誠ごころが御神幸を生み出しました。
　大元・宗忠神社から今村宮へは、直線距離で500メートルです。これだけ立派な神事をぜひとも市内にも、との地元岡山の街中の人々からの要望を受けて、明治24年から、今もわが国三名園と名高い後楽園（こうらくえん）を御旅所（おたびしょ）とする今日の御神幸になりました。

During his lifetime, “Kurozumi-Daisensei 黒住大先生 (Great Teacher)” was revered as “the Divine Parent of the Teaching” (Oshie no Mioya no Kami 教祖の神), and was granted by His Majesty the Emperor the highest divine title, Munetada Daimyōjin. Out of sincere devotion, the elders who wished to unite the Divine Founder—now enshrined as Munetada Daimyōjin—with the deity of Imamura Shrine, where he had once served as a priest, gave rise to Goshinkō 御神幸 or the Divine Procession.
From Ōmoto Munetada Shrine to Imamura Shrine is a straight distance of only 500 meters. Responding to the heartfelt request of the townspeople of Okayama, who wished such a splendid rite to be celebrated also within the city, the procession was, beginning in 1891 (Meiji 24), directed to Kōraku-en , one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, which became its otabisho (resting place). This remains the form of Goshinkō today.

御鳳輦（ごほうれん）

　御神幸の中心をなすのは、御鳳輦と呼ばれる漆黒（しっこく）の御駕籠（おかご）です。ここに御神幸斎行の日の未明、宗忠神社御本殿から教祖宗忠神の御神霊を奉遷して、与丁（よちょう）と呼ばれるお道づれの男性に担（かつ）がれ、前後を緋袴（ひばかま）の娘さん方に守られて、霊地大元から後楽園の往復約14キロの岡山市中を進まれます。その道中、いわば動く神社として多くの方が仰ぎ見、頭を下げ、拍手を打って祈られます。

The Sacred Palanquin (Gohōren 御鳳輦)
At the heart of the Divine Procession is the Gohōren 御鳳輦, a lacquer-black palanquin. In the early dawn of the day of the procession, the sacred spirit of the Divine Founder Munetada is transferred from the main sanctuary of Munetada Shrine into this palanquin. It is borne on the shoulders of male attendants called yochō, guarded before and behind by young women in scarlet hakama (pleated skirt-like trousers). From the sacred site of Ōmoto, the procession advances through the city of Okayama, covering a round trip of about 14 kilometers to and from Kōraku-en. Along the way, the palanquin is revered as a “moving shrine,” with countless people bowing their heads, clapping their hands, and offering prayers.

　この御鳳輦は、今日も讃岐塗（さぬきぬり）で有名な香川県のお道づれがあい集って造営献納されたもので、明治の時代は他県の人に与丁の御役は回って来なかったと伝えられています。それにしましても、明治の先輩は一方で宗忠神社建立につとめながら、同時進行で御神幸の準備も進められていたのですから、その信仰心の強さと肚（はら）の太さに感服します。

This Gohōren was built and dedicated by companions of the Way from Kagawa Prefecture, renowned for their Sanuki-nuri lacquerwork. It is said that in the Meiji era, the role of yochō was never assigned to men from other prefectures. Indeed, while the elders of that time were devoting themselves to the construction of Munetada Shrine, they were simultaneously preparing for the Divine Procession. Their strength of faith and breadth of spirit command deep admiration.

　御鳳輦に奉仕するこの与丁の履（は）く“わらじ”を、毎年作って奉納下さるお道づれが次々とあり、稲わらで編（あ）んだわらじは往復で1人2足は必要でしたが、1足は与丁をつとめた本人が、もう1足は近しいお道づれにさし上げて、まるでお守り札のように有り難くいただき、またそこに次々とおかげが現れて今日に至っています。

The yochō who serve by carrying the Gohōren wear straw sandals (waraji). Each year, companions step forward to weave and dedicate these sandals. Since each attendant needed two pairs for the round trip, one pair was worn during the service, while the other was given to a close companion. These sandals were received with gratitude, almost like protective amulets, and over time many blessings were said to have appeared through them, continuing down to the present day.

御神幸の復活 昭和27年

　戦前から久しく途絶えていた御神幸は、昭和25年の教祖神百年大祭を機に復活しました。いわゆる戦後の瓦礫（がれき）の中から五代様を中心に立ち上がった先輩方は、この大祭を教団再生のチャンスととらえ、新しい時代は、一般社会からも頼られ崇（あが）められる教団であらねばならないと、いわゆる開かれた教団活動を目指されました。そのひとつが今日も執り行われている献茶祭で、毎年京都から茶道の家元が来られて大教殿で献茶をおつとめ下さっています。また岡山の春を呼ぶ御祭りとして、境内が参拝者で埋め尽くされる2月3日の節分祭も、このときに始められました。

The Revival of the Divine Procession in 1952 (Shōwa 27)
The Divine Procession, long discontinued before the war, was revived in 1950 (Shōwa 25) on the occasion of the Centennial Grand Festival of the Divine Founder’s Ascension. Rising from the rubble of the postwar years, elders led by the Fifth Chief Patriarch seized this festival as an opportunity for the rebirth of our organization. They resolved that in the new era our faith community must be open, respected, and relied upon by society at large.
One such initiative was the Tea Offering Festival, still held today, with the headmasters of the tea schools of Kyoto coming each year to Daikyōden (the Main Shrine) to perform the rite. Another was Setsubun 節分 Festival (the festival marking the day before the start of spring) on February 3, which fills the precincts with worshippers and has become a springtime celebration in Okayama—both inaugurated at that time.

　その集大成ともいうべき神事が、御神幸の復活でした。昔の御神幸を知る教団内外の方々からの熱い要望と誠の奉仕で、昭和27年4月、復活第1回御神幸は斎行されました。そのための奉賛会も結成され、地元岡山の政財界マスコミ界のリーダー方が馳（は）せ参じ、そういう方々の中からの発案でしょう、市内の百貨店で錚々（そうそう）たる日本画家が献納下さった絵画の展示即売会が大々的に開催され、そうした浄財も力となって御神幸の御神具や御道具の新調もなされました。奥村土牛、伊東深水、児玉希望、金島桂華、矢野橋村……今に名高い画家方が、「“黒住さんのためなら……”とご奉仕下さった」と感激して話された父五代様のお声が、今も耳底に残っています。

The culmination of these efforts was the revival of the Divine Procession. Responding to fervent requests and sincere devotion from within and beyond the organization, the first revived procession was held in April 1952 (Shōwa 27). A support association was formed, with leaders from Okayama’s political, financial, and media circles joining in. From among them came the idea to hold a large exhibition and sale of paintings donated by eminent Japanese artists at a city department store. The proceeds provided funds to renew the sacred implements and ritual furnishings of the procession.
Renowned painters such as Masters Okumura Togyū, Itō Shinsui, Kodama Kibō, Kaneshima Keika, and Yano Hashimura—now celebrated names—offered their works, saying, “If it is for Kurozumi-san, we will gladly serve.” The voice of the Fifth Chief Patriarch, moved to tears as he recounted this, still echoes in memory.

　しかも、それから15年後の昭和40年、当時の青年連盟が展開した「中・四国を対象に重症心身障害児の施設を造ろう」のいわゆる重症児運動におけるチャリティーセールに、前記の日本画家方をはじめ数多くの芸術家がその作品を寄贈して下さり、運動は一層盛り上がって今日の旭川児童院誕生となったことも感慨深く、改めてこうした先生方のご誠意に頭が下がります。

Fifteen years after that revival, in 1965 (Shōwa 40), the Kurozumikyō Youth Federation launched what came to be known as the “Severely Disabled Children’s Movement,” aiming to establish a facility for children with profound physical and mental disabilities in the Chūgoku–Shikoku region. For its charity sale, not only the Japanese painters mentioned earlier but also many other artists donated their works. This greatly heightened the momentum of the movement, eventually leading to the founding of the Asahigawa Children’s Home.
It is deeply moving to recall this, and one cannot help but bow in gratitude to the sincerity of those artists.

御馬車

　斎主の私が乗せていただく御馬車は、実は大正天皇がお使いになっていたのを、御神幸復活に際して下賜（かし）されたものです。従って、御馬車のあちこちに菊の御紋が入っていまして、それを取りはずすのに苦労したと聞いています。

The Imperial Carriage
The carriage in which I, as ritual officiant, am permitted to ride is in fact the very one once used by Emperor Taishō (R. 1879–1926), bestowed upon us at the time of the revival of the Divine Procession. Because of this, the chrysanthemum crest of the Imperial Family was engraved in various places upon it, and I have heard that considerable effort was required to remove those emblems.

　なぜ大正天皇ご使用の御馬車を拝領できたのか、あまり定かには伝えられていませんが、やはり孝明天皇の勅願所にまでなった神楽岡・宗忠神社ということ、さらに、皇室と表裏一体をなす伊勢神宮に、教祖神以来、道の誠を尽くしている本教なればこそのことと拝察しています。まことに有り難いことです。

As to why we were able to receive the carriage once used by Emperor Taishō, it is not entirely clear. Yet it seems fitting, given that Munetada Shrine at Kaguraoka in Kyoto had been elevated to the status of an imperial prayer site under Emperor Kōmei, and that Kurozumikyō has, since the Divine Founder, devoted itself with utmost sincerity to the Way in unity with Ise Jingu, which is inseparable from the Imperial Household. Truly, it is a matter of profound gratitude.

婦人会の奉仕

　御神幸が復活なった陰に、この方々の献身的奉仕なかりせば事は成らなかったと言っても過言でないのが、黒住教婦人会の存在です。昭和23年、戦後にいち早く立ち上がって再結成にこぎつけた婦人会会員のお道信仰は、本部はもとより各教会所の強い底力となって今に続いています。
　1,000余名の方々が2日がかりで奉仕下さる御神幸は、婦人会の皆様が夜を徹して作って下さる約7,000食のお弁当がなくてはできない御祭りです。

The Service of the Women’s Association
It is no exaggeration to say that the revival of the Divine Procession could not have been accomplished without the devoted service of the Kurozumikyō Women’s Association. In 1948 (Shōwa 23), they were among the first to rise again after the war, achieving reorganization. Their steadfast faith has remained a powerful foundation for the headquarters and each local church to this day.
The procession, which requires the service of more than 1,000 people over two days, would be impossible without the approximately 7,000 boxed meals prepared overnight by the members of the Women’s Association.

　昭和の50年代、時の武鑓和夫教務総長は、婦人会幹部の方々を呼んで「今時、徹夜の奉仕はいかがなものか。この頃は弁当も手軽に入手できるし……」と話しました。「なんと婦人会から大目玉をくらいまして……。“総長さんは私たちの奉仕の喜びを奪うのですか！”というわけで、一本取られました」と、武鑓総長が嬉（うれ）しそうに私に話していたのが思い出されます。

In the 1970s (Shōwa 50s), Chief Administrator Takeyari Kazuo once called the leaders of the Women’s Association and said: “In this day and age, is all-night volunteer service all by women appropriate? These days boxed meals can be easily obtained…” To which he was roundly scolded: “Are you trying to take away the joy of our service, Chief Administrator?” Mr. Takeyari later recalled this with delight, saying, “They got the better of me that day.”

　平成7年1月17日、関西方面に突然襲い来た大震災に際し、本教が1週間後の23日から51日間、神戸市の兵庫中学校を拠点に1日5,000食の炊き出し奉仕ができたのも、婦人会の皆様が御神幸の度ごとにおつとめ下さる大量の弁当づくりの経験とその道具があったからでありました。

On January 17, 1995 (Heisei 7), when the great earthquake suddenly struck the Kansai region, Kurozumikyō was able, beginning one week later on the 23rd, to serve 5,000 hot meals daily for 51 days at Hyōgo Junior High School in Kobe. This was possible thanks to the experience and equipment of the Women’s Association, who had long prepared thousands of boxed meals for each Divine Procession.

　御神幸は、「世界大和（たいわ）、万民和楽（ばんみんわらく）」を祈る御祭りにふさわしく、岡山の街中におだやかな一陣の清風を呼び出（い）だす精神運動であり、同時に、陰に陽に奉仕下さる方々に、教祖神との新たなご神縁を生み深めてくれる大御祭りでもあるのです。

The Divine Procession is truly fitting as a festival that prays for “Great Harmony of the World, Joy for All People.” It calls forth a gentle, refreshing breeze through the streets of Okayama as a spiritual movement. At the same time, it is a grand festival that, through the visible and invisible service of many, creates and deepens new bonds with the Divine Founder.