Category Archives: Twelve Songs Commentary

Song Five (expanded), verses 9–10 & Song Summary

Twelve Songs Commentary,

Verse 9

九ツ　こゝはこのよのもとのぢば　めづらしところがあらはれた

九つ　此処は此の世の元の地場　珍しい所が現れた

Kokonotsu / Koko wa kono yo no moto no Jiba / mezurashi tokoro ga arawareta

Nine / Here is / this world’s / original Jiba (locale) / extraordinary place has appeared

This place is the Jiba, the origin of the world. An extraordinary place has been revealed. Continue reading Song Five (expanded), verses 9–10 & Song Summary →

Song Five (expanded), verses 7–8

Twelve Songs Commentary,

Verse 7

七ツ　なんでもなんぎハさゝぬぞへ　たすけいちじよのこのところ

七つ　何でも難儀はささぬぞえ　救け一条のこの所

Nanatsu / Nande mo / nangi wa / sasanu zoe / tasuke ichijo no kono tokoro

Seven / No matter what / suffering / [Kami] will not allow [us] to go through / this place exclusively dedicated to salvation (relief)

The gist of this verse is: No matter what we go through, it is not Kami’s intention to make us suffer since this place is the origin of single-hearted salvation.1 Continue reading Song Five (expanded), verses 7–8 →

  1. MST 198. ↩

Song Five (expanded), verses 5–6

Twelve Songs Commentary,

Verse 5

五ツ　いつまでしん／＼゛したとても　やうきづくめであるほどに

五つ　何時まで信心したとても　陽気尽くめである程に

Itsutsu / Itsumade / shinjin / shita totemo / yōki / zukume de aru hodo ni

Five / Always / believing / even if [you] do / joyousness / brimming

The gist of this verse is: No matter how long we have believed or displayed the outward motions of faith, it is important that our heart-minds brim with joyousness.1 Continue reading Song Five (expanded), verses 5–6 →

  1. MST 195. ↩

Song Five (expanded), verses 1–2

Twelve Songs Commentary,

I have decided to upload an expanded series of commentaries on Song Five. I will upload more expanded commentaries on Song Six and beyond when I get around to them.

Verse 1

一ツ　ひろいせかいのうちなれバ　たすけるところがまゝあらう

一つ　広い世界の内なれば　救ける所がままあろう

Hitotsu / Hiroi sekai no / uchi nareba / tasukeru tokoro ga / mama arō

One / [This] wide world / within / saving places / there are many Continue reading Song Five (expanded), verses 1–2 →

Twelve Songs Commentary: Table of Contents

Twelve Songs Commentary

Song Eleven, verses 1–4

Twelve Songs Commentary

The main theme of this is Song is hinokishin toward the construction of the Kami’s “abode” (yakata). An example of such hinokishin is presented in the tangible form of carrying earth.

It may be noted it is quite appropriate that a Song with such a theme happens to be the “busiest” of the Twelve Songs. That is, there is a lot of arm swinging and hauling dirt that’s going on.1

Verse 1

一ツ      ひのもとしよやしきの　かみのやかたのぢばさだめ

一つ　日の本（火の元）庄屋敷の　神の館の地場定め

Hitotsu / Hinomoto / Shoyashiki no / Kami no yakata no / Jiba sadame

One / origin of the Sun / in Shoyashiki / Kami’s abode

Continue reading Song Eleven, verses 1–4 →

  1. Song Eleven contains more dynamic motions (11x) than any other Song in the Teodori. The Song that comes closest is Song Seven (7x). To be specific, these dynamic motions include:
    1. “Activity” motion: 5x (Hinokishin verses 2, 3 (*preceded by ninōte), 4, washi mo yuko 5, kishin to naru naraba 7, similar to 3)
    2. “Carry basket” motion, which only appears in this Song: 2x (Tsuchimochi verses 5, 7)
    3. Ichiretsu type spin (“Turn around”) motion: 3x (Yashiki no (on heel) bakariya de (back step turn) verse 8, ichiretsuni verse 9.) Only Song Seven has more spins (4x) than Song Eleven. As of comparison, in Song Eleven, these three spins take place within two verses (8 & 9) whereas they occur in verses 4, 5, 8 & 10 of Song Seven
    4. Dancing while back toward altar: 3x (verses 3, 5, 7. Motions of hands and feet happen to be opposite from one another for 3 & 7)
    5. Motions for tsuchi o hori torite in verse 8. ↩