Anecdotes of Oyasama 188

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Anecdotes of Oyasama
Anecdotes of Oyasama.jpg
Author: Various authors
Date Published: 1976
Pages: 159 (English ed.)

Anecdotes Index

Anecdotes of Oyasama 188 presents the contents of "Permanent Staff of the Residence," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 148 and 149 of the print edition.


Text: English translation and original Japanese

188. Permanent Staff of the Residence

Around noon on August 25, 1886, a short and stocky man came to the Residence and announced himself as the head of the Nara Police Station. He was received by Oyasama, and afterward left the Residence.

That night, someone pounded at the gate of the Residence, almost to the point of breaking it. Yoshie Iburi asked who it was, and the answer came, I am the head of the Nara Police Station. I visited here this afternoon. Open the gate!" Although Yoshie thought it was strange, she opened the gate and suddenly five or six ruffians rushed into the kitchen, all shouting, "Let's set fire to this Residence and burn it down tonight." Yoshie was shocked, ran into a room and shut the door behind her. The room led to Oyasama's room.

The ruffians then hurled the brazier from the kitchen, raising a storm of ashes in the room. Bowls and dishes were smashed. Intermediaries who were sitting in conference upstairs heard the rumbling sounds and screaming voices, and rushed downstairs. They fought the ruffians at the risk of their lives. This happened to be the day of Ohimachi,[1] and villagers were meeting in a neighbor's house. They also heard the uproar and hastened to the scene in a crowd. They helped to overcome the ruffians and then informed the police of the situation.

Narazo Hirano, took the six ruffians to the Tofuya Inn and, after giving them a serious lecture on their misconduct, released them.

On that day, Oyasama paid Her tribute of praise to Hirano:

"It was a chance for you to show your courage. Starting tomorrow you shall join the permanent staff of the Residence."


  1. Ohimachi originally was an overnight gathering where people purified themselves and on the following morning worshiped the sunrise. Later it became a festival where villagers feasted together after rice-planting or harvest.

一八八 屋敷の常詰

明治十九年八月二十五日(陰暦七月二十六日)の昼のこと、奈良警察署の署長と名乗る、背の低いズングリ太った男が、お屋敷へ訪ねて来た。そして、教祖にお目にかかって、かえって行った。

その夜、お屋敷の門を、破れんばかりにたたく者があるので、飯降よしゑが、「どなたか。」と、尋ねると、「昼来た奈良署長やが、一寸門を開けてくれ。」と言うので、不審に思いながらも、戸を開けると、五、六人の壮漢が、なだれ込んで来て、「今夜は、この屋敷を黒焦げにしてやる。」と、口々に叫びながら、台所の方へ乱入した。

よしゑは驚いて、直ぐ開き戸の中へ逃げ込んで、中から栓をさした。この開き戸からは、直ぐ教祖のお居間へ通じるようになっていたのである。

彼等は、台所の火鉢を投げ付け、灰が座敷中に立ちこめた。茶碗や皿も、木葉微塵に打ち砕かれた。二階で会議をしていた取次の人々は、階下でのあわただしい足音、喚き叫ぶ声、器具の壊れる音を聞いて、梯子段を走って下りた。そして、暴徒を相手に、命がけで防ぎたたかった。

折しも、ちょうどお日待ちで、村人達が、近所の家に集会していたので、この騒ぎを聞き付け、大勢駆け付けて来た。そして、皆んな寄って暴徒を組み伏せ、警察へ通知した。

平野楢蔵は、六人の暴徒を、旅宿「豆腐屋」へ連れて行き、懇々と説諭の上、かえしてやった。

この日、教祖は、平野に、

「この者の度胸を見せたのやで。明日から、屋敷の常詰にする。」

との有難いお言葉を下された。


註 お日待ち 前夜から集まって、潔斉して翌朝の日の出を拝むこと。 それから転じて、農村などで、田植や収穫の後などに、村の者が集ま って会食し娯楽すること。

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