Verse 4
四ツ よのなか
四つ 世の中
Yottsu / Yononaka
Four / In the world
三ニ さんざいこゝろをさだめ
三に 三歳心(散財心)を定め
San-ni / Sanzai kokoro o / sadame
Three / Sanzai / heart-mind / resolve
二ニ につこりさづけもろたら やれたのもしや
二に ニッコリ授けを貰ったら やれ頼もしいや
Nii-ni / Nikkori / Sazuke morotara / yare / tanomoshi ya
Two / A smile / the Grant if [you] receive / oh how / promising
一ツ 正月こゑのさづけは やれめづらしい
一つ 正月肥の授けは やれ(何と)珍しい
Hitotsu / Shōgatsu / koe no Sazuke wa / yare / mezurashii
One / New Year’s / Grant of Fertilizer / oh how / extraordinary
I find that a major weakness of many commentaries is that authors tend to go verse by verse and sometimes go on tangents that are not really constructive toward the understanding each Song as a whole. Some authors use a verse as a springboard to begin a short sermon. I will attempt to get away from that style as much as I can though I will adopt the conventional style of going through the Twelve Songs in chronological order. My longer commentaries will contain summaries of each Song. (Songs One to Four, Seven, Eleven and Twelve)
Here is a short survey of the commentaries I used as references when writing my commentary. Continue reading A Survey of Previous Commentaries/Bibliography
The Twelve Songs of the Teodori were composed by Oyasama between the first and eighth lunar months of 1867, which would correspond to between February and September 1867 according to the Gregorian calendar.1 It comprises a large portion of the liturgy Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Tenrikyo Service or Tsutome.
I have wanted to do an English commentary on the Twelve Songs for a long time because I have always found the official English translation of the Mikagura-uta to be wanting.
Continue reading Twelve Songs Commentary: Introduction
Although I have offered timelines before, I have decided to post a simple timeline that covers Oyasama’s or Miki Nakayama’s (physical) life. Continue reading Oyasama timeline
I realize it has been a reeaaallly long time since I posted anything or made any updates to this website. I offer my apologies.
I stumbled upon a translation I did some time ago that I felt could be useful to researchers of Tenrikyo and burakumin in general. I am unsure if this post will lead to more activity on this website down the road or not.
Continue reading Excerpts from Miki Nakayama and discriminated peoples
April 18 is Oyasama‘s birthday, or what I like to call Oyasamas.
If there is anyone out there wondering how to celebrate, one way you could do so is to wear red on April 18. Another way is to read The Life of Oyasama!
In any case, have a Happy Oyasamas!
Just wishing a Happy Christmas/Newtonmas/Hanukkah/Winter Solstice and New Year’s 2013 to everyone out there!