Life of Oyasama Preface

The Life of Oyasama
Preface
Chapter One
The Shrine of Tsukihi (1837–1838)
Chapter Two
The Early History of Oyasama (1798–1837)
Chapter Three
On the Way (1838–1852), (1853–1854), (1862–1864)
Chapter Four
The Place for the Service (1864), (1865–1866)
Chapter Five
The Salvation Service (1866–1882)
Chapter Six
The Identification of the Jiba (1869–1873), (Jan–Nov 1874), (Dec 1874), (1875), (1876–1877)
Chapter Seven
Buds Sprout from Knots (1878–1880), (1881)
Chapter Eight
Parental Love (pp. 121–124), (pp. 124–131), (pp. 132–137), (pp. 137–146), (pp. 146–157), (pp. 157–165), (pp. 165–168)
Chapter Nine
The Hardships of Oyasama (Jan–Sep 1882), (Oct–Dec 1882), (Jan–Jun 1883), (Jul–Dec 1883), (1884), (1885), (Jan–Apr 1886),(May–Dec 1886)
Chapter Ten
The Portals Opened (Jan 1–11, 1887), (Jan 12–13, 1887), (Jan 18–Feb 18, 1887)

Life of Oyasama Preface presents the contents of "Preface to the Manuscript Edition" in The Life of Oyasama as published by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters.

Preface to the Manuscript Edition

1. This manuscript edition is the fruit of efforts of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters to edit the biography of Oyasama. This effort has been continuous for about sixty years, since the Tenth Anniversary of Oyasama. This book is the standard for all people of the world to appreciate and practice the Divine Model of Oyasama, which is the aim of our faith.
2. We edited this book based upon the Ofudesaki and historical materials which have been preserved by the Church Headquarters, especially Oyasama-gyoden (The Biography of Oyasama), written by the first Shinbashira. This work was accomplished under the direction of the second Shinbashira and with the cooperation of many followers and others. Accordingly, we believe that in this edition nothing needs to be added to clarify the truth or to deliver the essence of the Divine Model of Oyasama.
3. We have used the phrase Manuscript Edition because more detailed research and studies remain to be made on the numerals, notes,words, and phrases. We hope that the providence of God will be bestowed in improving these points in the future.
4. We have used the solar calendar for dates after January 1, 1873. Lunar calendar dates have been added in parentheses.
5. If any readers have preserved historical materials concerning this Manuscript Edition, we would appreciate their kind offer of the information.

October 26, 1956

The Editors

Translator's note: Dates before 1873 appearing in the text are lunar calendar dates which we have translated with Gregorian calendar designations for the month and year to facilitate reading for the native English speaker. Dates after 1873 are solar calendar dates.

January 26, 1996