October 4 (Sun): I was lucky enough to attend the service commemorating the 120th anniversary of Muya Daikyokai / dedication service for the new roof for their Foundress’ Sanctuary in Naruto, Tokushima. The service was attended by the Shinbashira, Zenji Nakayama. (Harue Nakayama, his wife, may have been there as well but I haven’t been able to confirm at writing.)
Although the weather was unstable and rainy the days leading up to Sunday, it turned out to be a rare sunny day in what has been a very wet week. It was fortunate we had such beautiful weather since there were so many people there that there were not enough space to sit outside, much less inside.
Followers of Muya (including some from Brazil) and the eight grand churches that it has spawned so far (Awa, Hofu, Kagawa, Kunina, Myodo, Nan’a, Shuto, and Takamatsu) were there, with some manning the several food booths that offered yakisoba, yakitori, udon, maguro sashimi, takoyaki, and more after the service.
Before the service, the Shinbashira gave his congratulatory greeting. The statement that left the deepest impression with me was his instruction to those in the position of leading Muya Daikyokai that it was meaningless for the church to continue existing 200 to 300 years down the road if they ever lost sight of the mindset and resolve of those who applied for the establishment of Muya Shikyokai back in 1889. Thus, he urged those listening to continually remind and inform themselves of the “day of origin” that led to Muya’s founding.
Post-service entertainment included performances of bugaku, the Hokkaido soran bushi, and a dance from a children’s TV show. The bento they gave out to all attendants was quite a lot to eat as it was, so I was pretty stuffed afterward with the extra munchies from the food stalls. I didn’t really feel like eating dinner that evening. (Although the food was all good I must say that Shuto’s yakisoba was exceptionally delicious.)
I wish I was able to take more pictures but it was an impossible proposition having to watch my rascally two-year-old. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
Further reading
- See The Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Part 52: The Path of Repayment to God for a short story on Unosuke Tosa (1855–1928), Muya’s first head minister.
Update on 10/14/2009
I’d thought to add information supplied by a commemorative booklet that was distributed to all attendants via my translation:
Brief history of Muya Daikyokai
- 1880: Establishment of Awa Shinjin Ko1
- August 26, 1889: Sanction to establish Muya Shikyokai2 in Saita, Muya-cho, Itano County, and to install Unosuke Tosa as first head minister
- October 30, 1891: Elevated to a bunkyokai3
- February 27, 1900: Sanction to install Yoshinobu Tosa as second head minister
- January 6, 1909: Change of nomenclature to a “daikyokai” (grand church)
- September 25, 1911: Sanction to install Toshikazu Tosa as third head minister
- March 25, 1920: Sanction to relocate to present location in Kizu, Muya-cho, Naruto City and for sanctuary construction
- August 7, 1925: Dedication service for current sanctuary
- September 6, 1932: Sanction to install Tadatoshi Tosa as fourth head minister
- July 26, 1973: Sanction to install Toshitaro Tosa as fifth head minister
- September 26, 2007: Sanction to install Takenao Tosa as sixth head minister
Greetings by Takenao Tosa, head minister of Muya Daikyokai
There is no greater joy and honor than for me to have the presence of the Shinbashira, Okusama, and the former Shinbashira4 in addition to all of you who have come to worship at today’s service commemorating the 120th anniversary of our church and the dedication of the new roof for our Foundress’ Sanctuary.
Upon reflection, 40 years have passed since we last re-roofed the Foundress’ Sanctuary. Wind and rain damage from typhoons and the like have made the leaking of rain prominent as of late. Since this was truly unforgivable on our part to Oyasama, we decided to undertake renovations to correct this pressing matter.
We received sanction to undertake the renovations last December and commenced renovations in February this year after temporarily relocating the symbol of worship and memorial tablets. Last night, the Shinbashira himself re-enshrined the symbol of worship in the altar dedicated to Oyasama and the memorial tablets of the Nakayama household.5 I feel truly unworthy that we have been able to welcome the dedication service today without incident.
Further, when I turn my thoughts to today’s service that is being simultaneously held to commemorate Muya’s 120th anniversary, I cannot help but think about our day of origin when the establishment of this church was first sanctioned due to the sincerity and intense devotion of the first head minister and our other forebears. Since our founding, our successive head ministers have led the way for our elders to dedicate themselves single-heartedly to Jiba over a long 120 years. The thought of their sincere footsteps makes me feel the need to readjust my collar and brace myself for the road ahead.
Although there may be no need to mention this, a service to commemorate an anniversary at a juncture of every ten years serves as an occasion for us to pledge to further our spiritual growth and have God and Oyasama see the results. I wish to utilize this auspicious day today to become ever more spirited so everyone present will together make firm strides ahead in our nioigake and o-tasuke efforts.
In closing, allow me to express my deepest appreciation for your tremendous cooperation leading up to today.
Translation Notes
- “Ko” is a religious confraternity. See Recent Questions no. 7 for more details. ↩
- I am considering proposing “auxiliary church” as an official translation of “shikyokai.” ↩
- “Branch church.” Refer to Recent Questions no. 7 for description of the criteria of a bunkyokai between 1888 and 1908. ↩
- Tosa sensei is referring to Shinbashira Zenji Nakayama, Okusan or Zenji’s wife Harue Nakayama, and Zenji’s father, the former Shinbashira Zenye Nakayama. ↩
- The Foundress’ Sanctuary of Muya Daikyokai is notably different from other Tenrikyo churches in that it has a separate building for an altar dedicated to Oyasama, which is shared by the memorial altar dedicated to the memory of departed Nakayama family members. ↩
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