至福のとき—伊勢萬人参り
(Moments of Bliss — The Great Pilgrimage to Ise)

平成28年4月号掲載(April 2016 Issue)

　２月半ばから末にかけての３日間ずつの６日間、伊勢に逗留して各地からお参りのお道づれの皆様をお迎えしてつとめました、立教二百年記念の伊勢萬人参りを無事に有り難く終えることができました。

Over six days, divided into two sets of three days from mid to late February, we stayed in Ise and welcomed companions from various regions who came to worship. Thus, with deep gratitude, we were able to complete the Bicentennial Commemorative Ise Jingu 伊勢神宮 Pilgrimage of Ten Thousand People.

　私にとりましては、昭和５５年、５９年、そして平成６年に続く伊勢萬人参りでしたが、今回も皆様の喜びに満ちた笑顔の中での参宮となりましたことを、心から有り難く思っています。

For me, this was another Ise Jingu Pilgrimage of Ten Thousand People, following those in Shōwa 55 (1980), Shōwa 59 (1984), and Heisei 6 (1994). This time as well, I am deeply grateful that it became a pilgrimage filled with the joyful smiles of everyone.

　ここ数年、急激に参拝者の増加した伊勢神宮ですが、寒い季節の２月にもかかわりませず、ひききりなしに参拝する方々の多さに、いろいろ問題の多い今日の世の中ですが、わが国は大丈夫だということを確信しました。日本人の血ともいうべき働きが、人々をして伊勢の大御前に向かわせているとしか言いようのない参拝者の多さでした。

In recent years, the number of worshippers at Ise Jingu has increased rapidly. Even in the cold season of February, the sheer multitude of people visiting without pause convinced me that, despite the many problems in today’s world, our nation is secure. The overwhelming number of worshippers can only be described as the very working of the Japanese spirit—like blood itself—drawing people toward the Great Presence of Ise.

　国魂とも申し上げるべき「天照坐皇大御神」の大御前に詣でて、初めて安心を得、また明日への活力をいただく日本人の素晴らしさにあらためて感銘を深くしました。

Visiting the Great Presence of Amaterasu Ōmikami, who may rightly be called the spirit of the nation, the Japanese find for the first time true peace of mind and receive renewed strength for tomorrow. I was deeply impressed once again by this greatness of the Japanese people.

　伊勢に滞在中、お道づれの団体が到着される度に、２００名、３００名の、さらに５００名から１０００名の皆様と共に玉砂利を踏んで大御前に進み、お祓いを上げて祝詞を奏上し、「御開運の祈り併せて御聖願達成の祈り」を唱和して、その後ご挨拶申し上げることを繰り返しました。いずれの時も、心に深く刻まれるのは皆様の笑顔、実にふくよかなお顔でした。

During our stay in Ise, each time a group of companions arrived—200, 300, and even 500 to 1,000 people—we walked together across the white gravel to the Great Presence, recited Ōharae no Kotoba 大祓詞 (the Great Purification Prayer), recited norito 祝詞 (a Shintō ritual prayer), and chanted in unison the Prayers for Amaterasu Ōmikami’s Prosperity and for the Fulfillment of the Sacred Vows. Afterward, I would offer greetings, repeating this again and again. What was always engraved deeply in my heart were the smiles of everyone—their faces truly full and radiant.

　皆様が、きょうの伊勢萬人参りをこのように喜び、大きな誇りとされていることがひしひしと伝わってきまして、目頭が熱くなることもしばしばでした。

As everyone’s joy and pride in today’s Ise Jingu Pilgrimage of Ten Thousand People was so vividly conveyed, I often found my eyes growing moist.

　教祖神の御神詠に、
　天照らす神もろともに行く人は日ごと日ごとにありがたきかな（御歌十三号）
とありますが、この伊勢萬人参りの皆様は、実に
　宗忠の神もろともに行く人は日ごと日ごとにありがたきかな
さながらに、宇治橋を渡って大御前に向かう道中、教祖宗忠神が皆様と共に歩まれているの感を強くしました。いずれも私は先頭を歩き、その後を皆様がついて来て下さっての参宮ですが、私にはお参りのお一人おひとりが、”宗忠の神もろともに行く”お姿そのものに感じられました。まさに「お道づれ」のお互いです。

In the sacred poem of the Divine Founder it is written:
Those who go together with the Heaven-illuminating Amaterasu Ōmikami are blessed day by day. (Poem No. 13)
In this pilgrimage, it truly felt as though:
“Those who go together with Divine Munetada are blessed day by day.”
Crossing Uji Bridge and proceeding toward the Great Presence, I strongly sensed that the Divine Founder Munetada was walking together with everyone. Each time, I walked at the front, with all of you following behind in pilgrimage, yet to me each worshipper appeared as the very embodiment of “going together with Divine Munetada.” It was, in truth, the mutual companionship of “traveling the Way together.”

　この度の萬人参りでは、教祖神をはじめ先人先輩方も果たされていない特別の参拝の栄に浴しました。それは、神宮の特別のお取りはからいで、新宮である現在の御正宮に遷御なったあとの旧宮が解体されて今は更地となっている古殿地に入らせていただいてのお参りであったことです。参拝者でにぎわう御正宮前から東に進むと、大きな空間が広がります。古殿地です。ここから前方左を仰ぎ見ながら、目にもまばゆい御正宮の鰹木に目をこらして新宮の皇大神宮を拝することができたのです。

In this Pilgrimage of Ten Thousand People, we were blessed with a special honor not even the Divine Founder nor our predecessors had received. By special arrangement of the Grand Shrine, we were permitted to enter the Kodenchi 古殿地, the site of the former sanctuary, now leveled to bare ground after the transfer of the sacred presence to the new sanctuary.
From the front of the bustling main sanctuary, we proceeded eastward, where a vast open space spread before us—the Kodenchi. From there, gazing up to the left, we could fix our eyes upon the dazzling katsuogi atop the new sanctuary, and thus worship the newly enshrined Grand Shrine of the Sun Goddess.

　申し上げるまでもないことですが、伊勢神宮の御正宮の御敷地は、向かって右と左に同じ広さのいわば宮地があって、２０年ごとに交互に新しい御正宮が造営され御神体がお遷りになるのですが、私と団体参拝の代表者方はいつものように御正宮の御垣内に特別参拝させていただき、続いて神職の方のご案内で右側の古殿地に入りますと、そこはお道づれの皆様でいっぱいで、お祓いが朗々と上げられています。私は皆様の中を縫うように一段と高い所を指示されて立ち、皆様とのお祓いに加わりました。

It goes without saying that the sacred site of the Main Sanctuary of Ise Jingu consists of two equal grounds to the right and left, where every twenty years a new Main Sanctuary is constructed and the sacred symbol is transferred. As usual, I and the representatives of the group pilgrimage were granted special worship within the inner fence of the Main Sanctuary, and then, guided by the priests, entered the old sanctuary site on the right. There it was filled with fellow companions, and the purification prayer was being solemnly offered. I was directed to stand at a slightly elevated place among them and joined in the prayer together with everyone.

　正面に目をやりますと、お白石の敷き詰められた大きな空間の中央に、「心の御柱」の小さな覆屋があるのみです。全くの静寂の中、その覆屋が、紋服姿の教祖神が正座してこちらをお向きになっているの感に打たれ、思わず頭を垂れました。

Looking straight ahead, in the center of the vast space paved with white stones, there was only a small shelter covering the “Pillar of the Heart.” In complete silence, the shelter struck me with the impression that the Divine Founder, dressed in formal robes, was seated facing us. Overcome, I instinctively bowed my head.

　神風や伊勢とこことはへだつれど心は宮の内にこそ在れ（御歌九十六号）
との御神詠にも伺えます、教祖神ご生涯６度ものご参宮、そこに表れる俗に言うところの恋焦がれるようなお伊勢様へのお想いが伝わってきました。現在は神宮の幹部となっている方から以前お伺いしたことですが、明治天皇のお側に仕えて神道についてのご下問にお答えしていた方が書き残したものに、「黒住教の宗忠教祖は、伊勢の杜に鎮まられている」とあるのは真実なのだと、自らに言い聞かせるひとときでもありました。

As expressed in the sacred verse,
Ise the place of the divine wind and here are far apart, yet my heart is within the Shrine itself (Outa No.96)
the Divine Founder made six pilgrimages to Ise Jingu during his lifetime, conveying what might be called a yearning devotion toward Ise. I was once told by a person who is now an executive at Ise Jingu that a man who served close to Emperor Meiji and answered his inquiries about Shintō left a written record stating, “The Divine Founder Munetada of Kurozumikyō abides within the sacred forest of Ise.” In that moment, I reminded myself that this is indeed true.

　振り向いて皆様に黙礼の後ご挨拶申し上げる自分自身、その私をにこやかに熱いまなざしで見つめて下さる皆様方、不肖ながら黒住教教主である身の有り難さを心底感じる至福の時でありました。

After turning to offer a silent bow and greeting to all, I felt the warmth of your radiant gaze upon me. In that moment, though unworthy, I deeply sensed the blessing of being Chief Patriarch of Kurozumikyō, a joy beyond measure.

　この時も申し上げたことですが、この古殿地に立つ私にはまた格別の思いがありました。昭和４８年１０月、前々回の第６０回の式年遷宮の「遷御の儀」に招かれた私は、この御敷地の浄暗の中に参列し、御神体が左の御敷地にお遷りになるのについて新しい御正宮に向かいました。

As I said then, standing upon this old sanctuary site carried a special meaning for me. In October of Shōwa 48 (1973), invited to the Sengyo no Gi 遷御の儀 (the Transfer Ceremony) of the 60th Shikinen Sengū 伊勢神宮式年遷宮, I joined the solemn assembly within the sacred grounds, and as the sacred symbol was transferred to the left site, I proceeded toward the newly built Main Sanctuary.

　この地でいわゆる古殿となった、２０年間御正宮であった建物は、程なく解かれたわけですが、翌昭和４９年５月、その御用材が１１トントラックに満載されて霊地大元に到着しました。折から新霊地神道山に新しい大教殿のご造営が最終段階に入っていました当時、下賜された内宮御正宮の御神木は、大教殿の御神殿と祖霊殿の設えにすべて使わせていただけたのでした。中でも御正宮の棟木を支えていた二本の巨大なうだつの一本は、白布に巻かれて届けられ、今は御神前と祖霊殿の御扉となって御内陣のお護り役を担っています。

The building that had served as the Main Sanctuary of Naikū 内宮 (the Inner Shrine) for twenty years became the so‑called old sanctuary here in Ise Jingu, and was soon dismantled. In May of Shōwa 49 (1974), its sacred timber arrived at the holy site Ōmoto 大元 (the birthplace of the Divine Founder and the location of Munetada Shrine), loaded onto an eleven‑ton truck. At that time, construction of the new Daikyōden 大教殿 (the Main Shrine) at Shintōzan 神道山 was entering its final stage, and the sacred timber from the Main Sanctuary of Naikū was entirely used to furnish both the sanctuary and the ancestral shrine of the Daikyōden. Among them, one of the two massive udatsu beams that had supported the ridgepole of the Main Sanctuary was delivered wrapped in white cloth, and now serves as the protective doors of the inner sanctum before the divine presence and the ancestral shrine.

　この時から２０年後に再びこの御敷地に遷御になり、そしてこの度またご遷宮なって古殿地となったこの場に立つ私の心には、実にしみじみと熱いものが湧き続けていました。

Standing once again upon this sacred ground twenty years later, when the transfer of the sacred symbol returned here, and now once more as it has become the old sanctuary site after the recent Shikinen Sengū, my heart was deeply stirred with a warmth that has never ceased to flow.