Category Archives: Twelve Songs Commentary

Song Three Summary

Twelve Songs Commentary

Song Three covers a diverse array of themes, which include:

  • [1st verse] The revelation that the Place for the Service (Jiba) in Shoyashiki is the origin of the world.
  • [2nd verse] Although Oyasama (Oyagami) does not explicitly request anyone to build the Place for the Service, [3rd verse] people outside the Residence will gather to initiate and participate so it will come to be built.
  • [4th verse] You have done well to have followed this far until now, a true, lasting salvation will be made available from now on.
  • [5th verse] Always laughed at and slandered, to the point until Kami will be compelled to promise and provide unprecedented forms of salvation.
  • [6th verse] Do not make any wishes that lack merit or that are not backed up with the necessary effort that will help bring them about. Instead, become of a heart-mind that is straight and unswerving.
  • [7th verse] A declaration: In any situation from now on I will go in a straight and unswerving manner while leaning on Kami.
  • [8th verse] There is nothing more painful than illness. I, too, will join in the hinokishin, to contribute on a day-to-day basis.
  • [9th verse] I have entrusted myself until now, but did not know I was entrusting myself to the original Kami.
  • [10th, finally] At this time, as various forms of protection have been revealed, there is no mistake that an actual Kami, the Source of life’s sustenance is involved.

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Song Three, verses 9–10

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Song Three, verses 9–10

九ツ      こゝまでしん／＼゛したけれど　もとのかみとハしらなんだ
九つ　 此処迄信心したけれど　元の神とは知らなかった
Kokonotsu / koko made / shinjin shita keredo / Moto no Kami to wa / shirananda
Nine / until here / believed have done but / the original Kami / did not know

十ド　このたびあらはれた　じつのかみにはさうゐない
到頭　此の度現れた　実の神には相違ない
Tōdo / Kono tabi / arawareta / Jitsu no Kami ni wa / sōinai
Ten, finally / This time / appeared / true, actual Kami / there is no mistake

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Song Three, verses 7–8

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Verse 7

七ツ      なんでもこれからひとすぢに　かみにもたれてゆきまする
七つ　なんでもこれから一筋（一条）に　神に凭れて行きまする
Nanatsu / Nandemo / kore kara / hitosuji ni / Kami ni motarete / yukimasuru
Seven / In all matters / from now on / in a straight line / Kami lean on / [I] will go
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Song Three, verses 2–4

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Verses 2 and 3

二ツ      ふしぎなつとめばしよハ　たれにたのみはかけねども
二つ　不思議なつとめ場所は　誰に頼みは掛けないけれども
Futatsu / Fushigi na / Tsutome basho wa / tare ni / tanomi wa / kakene domo
Two / wondrous / Place for the Service / anyone / request / although not make

三ツ　みなせかいがよりあうて　でけたちきたるがこれふしぎ
三つ　皆世界が寄り合うて　出来立ち来るがこれ不思議
Mittsu / Mina / sekai ga / yori-ōte / deke-tachi kitaru ga / kore fushigi
Three / All / the world / will gather together / That it comes to be built / this is a wonder
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Song Three, verse 1

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Song Three is one of two Songs that use the open folding fans. Whereas the fans now have a red-orange disc1 on a white background and brings to mind the Japanese flag, they supposedly represent the Sun2 in addition to the Moon and the Sun.3 Folding fans from the late 1880s and 1890s had the Sun and crescent Moon.4 It is unclear when or why the church leadership adopted to use the folding fans with a red-orange disc, but it may worthy to consider a change away from the present convention sometime in the future.

Verse 1

一ツ      ひのもとしよやしきの　つとめのばしよハよのもとや
一つ　日の本（火の元）庄屋敷（初屋敷）の　つとめの場所は世の元や
Hitotsu / Hi no moto / Shoyashiki no / Tsutome no basho wa / yo no moto ya
One / origin of the Sun / in Shoyashiki / The Place for the Service is / the world’s origin

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  1. According to my observations, the disc of older folding fans tend to have a redder tinge while it is more of a more orange hue in newer fans. ↩
  2. Ueda A 214. ↩
  3. Ono 84. Yoshinaru Ueda states that holding an open folding fan in each hand represents the principle of Tsuki-Hi, Moon-Sun or Cosmic Space-Time. In other words, he states that holding the fans can be interpreted to express the principle of Cosmic Space-Time in a state of spiritual uplift before our very eyes (A 214). ↩
  4. MST 163. ↩