Category Archives: Teachings and Stories of Tenrikyo Forebears

Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 23

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, ,

23. A Command to Stop Working in the Fields

It is written that between 1882 and 1887 Izo did farming and forestry work and for these five years, he never had the luxury to sit and relax at a meal but ate his meals standing near the oven. But according to Yosaburo Miyamori (1857–1936):

“The Residence was not a busy place as it is now. So when Izo first moved to Jiba, it was not like he had a set schedule of tasks to do each day. He would help out when we went out into the fields. He also helped to dig ditches and plow the rice fields.

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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 21

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations,

21. Izo’s Perseverance Working in the Fields

After Izo stopped working as a carpenter, he began to work in the fields. Despite the fact that he was unaccustomed to using a hoe, he worked alongside Shinnosuke Nakayama, the first Shinbashira, in doing physical labor and polishing rice grains. Although he was aware he was not good at farm work, he resolved to work at least half the amount of a typical farmer and worked no matter how hot or cold it was.
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The Life of the Honseki Izo Iburi, Part Eight

Life of the Honseki

“A Thing I Intended to Give My Children”

Oyasama hastens the performance of the Service

In February 1886, during the harshest Yamato winter in 30 years, Oyasama was imprisoned at Ichinomoto Station for 12 days. But despite such oppression by the authorities, Oyasama continued to hasten Her followers to conduct the Service.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 10

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 10 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2003 (No. 418) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 10: “I Accept One Day as A Thousand Days”

In 1883, plasterer and head of Meishin-gumi Confraternity, Shirobei Umetani, stayed several days at the Residence and poured his heart and soul into the final touchups during the construction of Oyasama’s Resting House. The Resting House was completed in mid-November.

Oyasama waited for the proper time before making Her move from the South Gatehouse into the newly built Resting House that still emitted the fragrance of fresh timber. At midnight on November 25 (or 10/26 according to the lunar calendar), followers of confraternities such as Meishin-gumi and Shinmei-gumi held paper lanterns bearing the names of their confraternities and welcomed Her when She made Her move. Shirobei received a set of Oyasama’s red clothes the following day.

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A Humble Mind

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 32–36) by Koji Sato (佐藤浩司), assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

A Humble Mind

Chuzaburo Koda 鴻田忠三郎, a learned man who successively held several agriculture-related posts, began to serve at the Residence in 1883. At the time, the police considered Oyasama’s teachings as an aberrant faith and they often summoned Oyasama for questioning or arrest. Chuzaburo was also once summoned with Oyasama in March 1884 to Tanbaichi Branch Station and was sentenced to serve ten days of imprisonment with Her at Nara Prison.
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