お役に立つ教団でありたい
(On Being a Helpful Organization)

平成27年3月号掲載(Published in March 2015 issue)

　昭和２８年（１９５３）に岡山市に開局したＲＳＫ山陽放送ラジオは、開局以来毎年、その元旦放送の第一声として、五代宗和教主様の「新春を寿ぐ」とのご挨拶(あいさつ)を放送することが恒例でした。同４９年（１９７４）からは現教主様が同放送を受け継がれ、今年も放送されました。また、昨年の立教二百年の冬至の日、１２月２２日付の産經新聞朝刊に、本教の立教二百年大祝祭が大きく紹介されましたが、その記事において教主様は、「”わたがし”の割り箸役」と題する一文を寄せられています。今号の「道ごころ」には「新春を寿ぐ」と「”わたがし”の割り箸役」とを紹介します。
（編集部）

RSK Sanyo Broadcasting Radio, which opened in Okayama City in Shōwa 28 (1953), has made it a tradition to broadcast as its very first words of the New Year the greeting “Celebrating the New Year” from the Fifth Chief Patriarch, Kurozumi Munekazu. From Shōwa 49 (1974), the present Chief Patriarch has continued this broadcast, and it was aired again this year.
Furthermore, on December 22, the winter solstice of last year’s Bicentennial of the Founder’s Revelation, the Sankei Shimbun morning edition carried a large feature on Kurozumikyō’s Bicentennial Grand Festival. In that article, the Chief Patriarch contributed a piece titled “Like the Chopsticks for Cotton Candy.”
This issue of Michigokoro introduces both “Celebrating the New Spring” and “Like the Chopsticks for Cotton Candy.”
(Editorial Office)

新春を寿(ことほ)ぐ(Celebrating the New Year)

　今年は、黒住教の教祖をまつる大元の宗忠神社が創建されて１３０年、いわゆるご鎮座百三十年の年に当たり、１０月にその記念の御祭りを斎行する予定になっています。実は世に大元神社ともいわれる宗忠神社は、ご鎮座に先立つ２３年前の文久２年、１８６２年３月に当時の王城の地である京都に、しかも全国の神社を取り仕切る吉田神社からいわゆる吉田山の東南の広大な高台の提供を受けて、創建されました。

This year marks the 130th anniversary of the founding of Munetada Shrine at Ōmoto 大元宗忠神社, dedicated to the Divine Founder of Kurozumikyō. A commemorative festival is scheduled for October. In fact, Munetada Shrine 宗忠神社—also known as Ōmoto Shrine 大元神社—was first established twenty‑three years earlier, in March 1862 (Bunkyū 2), in Kyoto, then the imperial capital. It was built on a vast plateau on the southeastern side of Yoshida Hill, land provided by Yoshida Shrine 吉田神社, which oversaw shrines nationwide.

　時は、南アジアの国々を食べつくしたような西洋の列強が、残ったご馳走に襲いかかるようにわが国周辺に迫ってきた時代です。徳川の藩幕体制が崩れてきて、皆様ご存じの維新前夜の混迷を深めていたそのさ中に、京都の宗忠神社は鎮座になりました。新しい神道の風が備前岡山から吹いてきたように、京の街の人々から熱く受け入れられ、崇(あが)められ、ついには時の天皇陛下、孝明天皇の勅願所(ちょくがんしょ)にまでなり、国家安泰を祈る祈りが連日重ねられました。

At that time, Western powers, having consumed much of South Asia, were pressing upon Japan like guests lunging at the last dishes of a feast. The Tokugawa feudal system was collapsing, and the turmoil of the eve of the Restoration was deepening. In the midst of this, Munetada Shrine was enshrined in Kyoto. Like a fresh Shintō wind blowing from Okayama, it was warmly received and revered by the people of Kyoto. Eventually, it became an imperial prayer site of Emperor Kōmei, where daily prayers were offered for the peace and security of the nation.

　その後、明治維新を経て、教祖宗忠生誕の地、黒住教立教の所である大元にも宗忠神社をという声が各地から上がり、当時の信者の皆様の真心でもって大元の宗忠神社は建築、建立されました。

Later, after the Meiji Restoration, voices arose across the country calling for a Munetada Shrine also at Ōmoto, the birthplace of the Divine Founder and the founding site of Kurozumikyō. Through the sincere devotion of believers at that time, Munetada Shrine at Ōmoto was built and established.

　教祖宗忠をはじめ黒住家の先祖代々が仕えてきた今村宮の神々と、今は宗忠大明神という神号をいただいて神とまつられた教祖宗忠との、神様同士のお引き合わせをしようと翌年の明治１９年から始められたのが、毎年春の宗忠神社御神幸(ごしんこう)です。そして数年後、この御神幸は、大元と後楽園(こうらくえん)を往復する今日(こんにち)の御神幸になりました。

The annual spring Goshinkō 御神幸 (Sacred Procession) of Munetada Shrine began in Meiji 19 (1886). It was started to bring together the deities of Imamura Shrine 今村宮—served by Munetada and generations of the Kurozumi family ancestors—with Munetada himself, who had by then been enshrined as the divine figure Munetada Daimyōjin 宗忠大明神. A few years later, this procession developed into today’s Goshinkō, traveling between Ōmoto and Kōraku‑en Garden 後楽園.

　１３０年間、黒住教の信者の人たちにとどまらず、多くの県民市民の方々に親しまれて今日に至っているいわゆる大元神社、宗忠神社ですが、そこには二つの大きな災難が因(もと)になっているように私には思えます。

For 130 years, Munetada Shrine—also called Ōmoto Shrine—has been cherished not only by believers of Kurozumikyō but also by many citizens of the prefecture and city. To me, it seems that two great misfortunes lie at the origin of this enduring devotion.

　そのひとつは、昭和９年の室戸台風の時でした。四国地方から近畿一円に吹き荒れたこの台風の大雨で、岡山市中を流れる旭川は、現在の市民会館の辺りの土手が決壊して市の中心部は大洪水に見舞われ、数多くの方が亡くなり、家屋が流されました。この時のひとつの避難所が大元で、宗忠神社はその中心施設として活用されました。伝えられているところによりますと、ひと月近く相当数の人々が拝殿に寝泊まりして生活されたようです。拝殿を囲む回廊は炊事場となり、厚い板の回廊のここかしこに、当時コンロが使われたところが、まるで鉄のスプーンでえぐりとったように焼きとられていて丸くへこんでいます。

One of these misfortunes was the Muroto Typhoon in Shōwa 9 (1934). Sweeping from Shikoku across the entire Kinki region, its heavy rains caused the Asahi River flowing through Okayama City to break its embankment near the present Civic Hall. The city center was struck by a great flood, many lives were lost, and houses were swept away. At that time, Ōmoto served as one of the evacuation sites, with Munetada Shrine used as the central facility. According to accounts, for nearly a month a considerable number of people lived in the worship hall, sleeping there at night. The surrounding corridors became kitchens, and even today the thick wooden boards of the corridors bear round depressions—like scoops made by an iron spoon—where cooking stoves once burned into the wood.

　もうひとつは、昭和２０年８月１５日に終戦を迎えた先の大戦中の、６月２９日の岡山大空襲の時のことです。未明に襲来した爆撃機Ｂ２９は、容赦なく焼夷弾(しょういだん)を落とし続け、岡山の街は火の海となりまさに焼土と化しました。幸い戦火を免れた大元は、大水害の時と同じように多くの市民の方々の避難所となりました。この時、小学校二年生だった私はまざまざと当時のことを今も思い出します。夜が明けた頃、天満屋近くの病院の院長先生が、白髪をふり乱して父先代教主の前に仁王立ちして「火の中で子供たちと離れ離れになった……」と、流す涙をぬぐおうともせず叫ぶように訴えられていたのが忘れられません。この先生に続くように、多くの人々がぼろぼろの姿で力なく流れつくように神社に集まって来られました。

The other misfortune came during the war, before its end on August 15, Shōwa 20 (1945). In the early hours of June 29, American B‑29 bombers attacked Okayama, mercilessly dropping incendiary bombs until the city was engulfed in flames and reduced to ashes. Fortunately, Ōmoto escaped the fires and, as in the great flood, became a refuge for many citizens.
At that time, I was a second‑year elementary school student, and I still vividly recall those scenes. When dawn broke, the director of a hospital near Tenmaya, his white hair disheveled, stood firmly before my father, the former Chief Patriarch, crying out without even wiping away his tears: “I was separated from the children in the flames…” I can never forget his voice. Following him, many people in tattered condition, drained of strength, drifted into the shrine grounds seeking shelter.

　大元は大水害の時と同じように、多くの市民の皆さんの避難所となりました。昭和９年の時さながらに、神社の回廊は炊事場となり、コンロの跡はポコポコとえぐられたように残りました。

As in the great flood, Ōmoto once again became a refuge for many citizens. Just as in Shōwa 9 (1934), the shrine’s corridors turned into kitchens, and the marks of the stoves remain, gouged out in places.

　未だにこげた炭が焼き付いて黒く残っているのが大空襲の時のもので、大水害の時のものは炭の色が消えています。
　私にとりまして、このコンロの跡は、多くの市民の方々と宗忠神社をつなぐ絆の証として貴重なものとなっています。

The charred black stains still visible today are from the wartime air raid, while those from the flood have lost their color. For me, these stove marks are a precious testimony—an enduring bond between the citizens and Munetada Shrine.

　申し上げるまでもなく、神社や神殿は、祈りの場でありますが、同時に人々が心安らぎ安んじ、身も心も助かる場でなくてはなりません。神社の鳥居はドアのない門です。誰でもがいつでも入れますし、いつでも出てゆけるのが神社、いや、わが国古来の神道であることを、鳥居は無言の内に語っています。

Needless to say, shrines and sanctuaries are places of prayer, but at the same time they must also be places where people find peace of mind and body, and where they are helped in spirit and in life. The torii 鳥居 of a shrine is a gate without doors. Anyone may enter at any time, and anyone may leave at any time. In silence, the torii tells us that this is the nature of shrines—and indeed of our country’s ancient Shintō.

　私どもは、先人先輩から受け継いできたこの精神を崩すことなく大切にして、今後とも努めていきたいと願っています。皆様に今後ともよろしくとお願い申し上げますとともに、改(あらた)めて皆様のこのひととせのご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。

We wish to preserve this spirit handed down from our predecessors without breaking it, and to continue striving in this way. With heartfelt thanks, we ask for your continued support, and once again we pray for your happiness throughout this year.

“わたがし”の割(わ)り箸(ばし)役(“The Chopsticks for Cotton Candy”)

　教祖宗忠が日の出を拝んで生まれた本教は今年、平成２６年で立教２００年となりました。２００年間、毎朝日の出を迎え拝（おろが）む日拝を、一日の祈りの始まりとして日を重ねてまいりました。今年１０月から１１月にかけて記念の祭事を行い、続いて、各宗教宗派の代表の方をはじめ各界の方々においでいただいての集いも開かせてもらいました。
　一連の行事を終えて改めて思いますことは、教団内外の”信”の一字に支えられての２００年であったということです。それは信仰の信であり、信用、信頼の信であります。

Kurozumikyō, founded when Munetada　the Divine Founder worshipped the sunrise, reached its Bicentennial in Heisei 26 (2014). For 200 years, daily Nippai 日拝 (the sunrise worship) has been offered, greeting and revering the rising sun as the beginning of each day’s prayers. From October to November, commemorative festivals were held, followed by gatherings attended by representatives of various religions and denominations, as well as leaders from many fields.
Looking back after these events, I am deeply aware that these 200 years have been sustained by the single character shin 信—faith. It is the shin 信 of shinkō 信仰 (religious faith), and also the shin 信 of shin’yō 信用 (trust) and shinrai 信頼 (confidence).

　ここ５０年を振り返ってみましても、感慨深いものがあります。

Even reflecting only on the past fifty years, the feelings are profound.

　昭和４０年に、微力ながらつとめました重症心身障害児施設づくりのキャンペーンも、中・四国を中心に数多くの県民市民の方々のご理解と協力を得て、昭和４２年に、岡山市内の社会福祉法人旭川荘の中に、旭川児童院となって結実しました。

In Shōwa 40 (1965), I made a modest effort to campaign for the creation of a facility for children with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. With the understanding and cooperation of many citizens, especially across the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions, this effort bore fruit in Shōwa 42 (1967) as the Asahigawa Children’s Home within the social welfare corporation Asahigawa‑sō in Okayama City.

　岡山県のお隣りで起きた阪神淡路大震災の時も「わたがし作戦５０日」と銘打っての炊き出し奉仕に、わたがしの割り箸にすぎない私たちの呼び掛けに、数多くの県民の皆さまが駆けつけてくださいました。おかげで神戸市内で、一日、５０００食という温かくも美味なる「わたがし」を、目の前で作って差しあげることが５１日間続きました。

During the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake in the neighboring Hyōgo Prefecture, we launched a relief effort called “50 Days of Operation Cotton Candy.” Responding to our call—no more than the chopsticks for cotton candy—countless citizens came forward. Thanks to them, in Kobe we were able to prepare and serve 5,000 warm and delicious meals a day, right before people’s eyes, for 51 consecutive days.

　これからも、この姿勢を、崩すことのない宗教教団でありたいと願っております。

We earnestly wish to remain a religious community that does not abandon this spirit.