Anecdotes of Oyasama 26 presents the contents of "The Story of Linen, Silk and Cotton," a selection from Anecdotes of Oyasama, published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in 1976. The content below appears between page 20 and 21 of the print edition.
Text: English translation and original Japanese
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26. The Story of Linen, Silk and Cotton
In 1872, while staying at the house of Matsuo, Oyasama said to the couple, Ichibei and Haru, when they came to greet Her one morning:
- "Both of you always wear formal clothes when you come to see Me. From now on just wear your everyday clothes. Would it not be more comfortable for you?"
When the two bowed their heads in appreciation, She taught them the following:
- "Today I will tell you the story of linen, silk and cotton.
- "The linen lets the breeze go through freely and does not stick to the skin. Therefore, there is nothing cooler or better to wear in the summer. However, it is too cold to wear in the winter. It is just for the summer. After being worn for about three years, it begins to discolor. If it becomes completely discolored, it is worthless. Even when it is dyed into a darker shade, the color is uneven. When it reaches this stage, it is as useless as waste paper.
- "Silk, whether made into a formal coat or a kimono, is elegant. It is something everybody wants even though it is very expensive. However, do not become a person like silk. It is nice while it is new, but when it gets a little old nothing can be done with it.
- "Now, when it comes to cotton, it is ordinary but is used by everyone. There is nothing that is so handy nor so widely used as cotton. It keeps us warm in the winter and it absorbs our perspiration in the summer. When it becomes dirty, it can be washed over and over again. When its color fades and it becomes so old that it cannot be worn any more, it can be used as a diaper or as a cleaning rag or even as sandals. To be useful until its original form no longer remains: this is cotton. God desires man to have a mind like cotton."
It is said that thereafter Ichibei and his wife carved the word "cotton" in their minds and wore nothing but cotton throughout their lives.
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二六 麻と絹と木綿の話
明治五年、教祖が、松尾の家に御滞在中のことである。お居間へ朝の御挨拶に伺うた市兵衞、ハルの夫婦に、教祖は、
- 「あんた達二人とも、わしの前へ来る時は、いつも羽織を着ているが、今日からは、普段着のままにしなされ。その方が、あんた達も気楽でええやろ。」
と、仰せになり、二人が恐縮して頭を下げると、
- 「今日は、麻と絹と木綿の話をしよう。」
と、仰せになって、
- 「麻はなあ、夏に着たら風通しがようて、肌につかんし、これ程涼しゅうてええものはないやろ。が、冬は寒うて着られん。夏だけのものや。三年も着ると色が来る。色が来てしもたら、値打ちはそれまでや。濃い色に染め直しても、色むらが出る。そうなったら、反故と一しょや。
- 絹は、羽織にしても着物にしても、上品でええなあ。買う時は高いけど、誰でも皆、ほしいもんや。でも、絹のような人になったら、あかんで。新しい間はええけど、一寸古うなったら、どうにもならん。
- そこへいくと、木綿は、どんな人でも使うている、ありきたりのものやが、これ程重宝で、使い道の広いものはない。冬は暖かいし、夏は、汗をかいても、よう吸い取る。よごれたら、何遍でも洗濯が出来る。色があせたり、古うなって着られんようになったら、おしめにでも、雑巾にでも、わらじにでもなる。形がのうなるところまで使えるのが、木綿や。木綿のような心の人を、神様は、お望みになっているのやで。」
と、お仕込み下された。以後、市兵衞夫婦は、心に木綿の二字を刻み込み、生涯、木綿以外のものは身につけなかった、という。
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