Category Archives: Footsteps of Our Predecessors

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 25

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 25 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2005 (No. 433) issue of Taimo, p. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 25: Under the Same Roof; On the Same Dirt Floor

Circa 1894, five Tenrikyo missionaries in their late 20s found a place in Hirosaki from where they went out to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings day and night. In time, they sprinkled the fragrance of the teachings to Iwanosuke Jin 神石之助, who they had met at the entrance of Hirosaki Hospital. Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 25 →

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 24

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 24 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2004 (No. 432) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 24: “Destined to Be Saved”

Kozaburo Murakami was born in a rich farming household in Izumi Province and was known for his honesty and his strict, hard-working nature. He was trusted by the people around him as a reliable man who never refused his assistance.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 23

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 23 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2004 (No. 431) issue of Taimo 大望, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 23: Praying on a Streetcorner in Beijing

Gunki Sato 佐藤軍紀 was part of the first graduating class of Tenri Foreign Language School in 1925.1 In 1928 he went to Beijing and began propagating the teachings of Tenrikyo.

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  1. Tenri Foreign Language School is the precursor of the present Tenri University. ↩

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 22

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 22 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2004 (No. 430) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 22: Oyasama as “Daruma”

One day, in the year 1884, Shirobei Umetani brought his third son Umejiro with him to worship at the Residence. Umejiro was seven or eight years old at the time. Umejiro was like his father Shirobei in his youth, a rascally and energetic child who knew no fear and said exactly what was on his mind.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 21

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 21 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the September 2004 (No. 429) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further polishing and revision.

Part 21: “By Saving Others, You Yourself Shall Be Saved”

In early April 1875, Eijiro Enomoto of Sugahama, Sandoson, in Fukui Prefecture (currently known as Sugahama, Migata-cho in Mihama-gun, Fukui Prefecture) embarked on a temple pilgrimage in the western provinces (saigoku junrei)1 in hopes to have his daughter Kiyo be saved from madness. Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 21 →

  1. The saigoku junrei is a well-known pilgrimage of 33 sites dedicated to the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon. There is actually ink-brush art accompanying this article that shows a man bowing (presumably Eijiro) dressed in Buddhist pilgrimage garb with the words “Namu Kanze Bosatsu” (variant of Kannon/Kanze’on) inscribed on his back. It would be really great if I could get permission to post this art with these translations (which I have been posting sans permission or notification, since, I would argue, these stories belong in the public domain). Maybe some day it will happen. ↩

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 20

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 20 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the August 2004 (No. 428) issue of Taimo, p. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further polishing and revision.

Part 20: “God Gives Thanks”

Tokuzo Nakagawa ran a seed supplying business along Sakai Boulevard in Osaka. After being saved from a certain illness, he was encouraged to pay his respects to “the god of Shoyashiki” and met with Oyasama for the first time.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 19

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 19 the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the July 2004 (No. 427) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further polishing and revision.

Part 19: “You Are Able to Eat Food Because of Tsuki-Hi”

The following story occurred circa the summer of 1884. A confraternity head (komoto 講元) from Kyoto brought a certain person to worship at Jiba. It was this person’s first pilgrimage returning to Jiba. A cholera epidemic happened to be raging in Kyoto at the time and he went to Jiba with the thought that there would be no harm in praying [for good health].

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 18

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 18 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the June 2004 (No. 426) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 18: “If Sincere, God Accepts”

Kiku Masui of Izushichijo Village (currently, Izushichijo-cho of Yamato-Koriyama City, Nara Prefecture) traveled near and far for her husband’s asthma whenever she heard about a miracle at a certain shrine or temple. However, when she was troubled that her prayers did not have their intended effect, she heard from a neighbor about “the living god of Shoyashiki Village.” In 1863, Kiku visited Oyasama for the first time, who at the time, said to Her:

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 17

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations,

The following is a translation of Part 17 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the May 2004 (No. 425) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 17: A Prayer for Rain (2 of 2)

Previously, central Taiwan was in the midst of a severe drought that went on for nearly six months, causing much hardship for local farmers. Genjiro Ichijo then made efforts to unite his mind with the people and made a firm decision to hold a prayer service for rain to receive God the Parent’s protection.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 16

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

The following is a translation of Part 16 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the April 2004 (No. 424) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This is a tentative translation and may require further revision

Part 16: A Prayer for Rain (1 of 2)

Genjiro Ichijo converted to the faith after he was saved from a life-threatening illness. In 1897, he accompanied Rev. Kunisaburo Moroi, the head minister of Yamana Bunkyokai, to Taiwan and was appointed to become the head minister of Taichu Shikyokai. Genjiro was thus placed in a position to proselytize the faith to people living in Taiwan.

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