Ofudesaki 01:019–20

Ofudesaki
Author: Miki Nakayama Date Published: 1998 Pages: 486 (English ed.) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 unnumbered set

Ofudesaki 01:019–20 is a set of verses from the Ofudesaki. The English translation below is the sixth edition translation.

Content

Hereafter, I desire that those in high places gradually	kono saki wa kami taru kokoro dandan to	このさきハ　上たる心　たん／＼と
calm their minds and make peace.	kokoro shizume te waboku naru yō	心しづめて　ハぶくなるよふ

This peace may seem difficult to attain,	kono waboku muzukashi yō ni aru keredo	このハほく　むつかしよふに　あるけれど
but it will come step by step through God’s protection.	dandan Kami ga / shugo suru nari	だん／＼神が　しゆこするなり

Alternate English translations

Third Edition

Henceforth, I desire that the minds of the upper people will become step by step pacified and make peace.

This peace may seem difficult to attain, yet I, God, will protect them and step by step lead them to it.

Inoue/Eynon

Henceforth, the hearts of the rulers will gradually be calmed, leading to their reconciliation.

This reconciliation may seem difficult to you. However, I, God, through My Providence, shall gradually accomplish it.

Commentary

Ofudesaki chushaku

This section contains translated material that has not yet been subjected to peer-review to check for accuracy and clarity. While the translator(s) have given their best effort to render Japanese text into English, we would like readers to keep in mind that the present translation may require further revising and refining. Any input to improve the present translation is greatly welcomed. Translator(s): Roy Forbes

1:19 From now on, those people who will be in a position to stand above others must calm their minds and promote harmony. 1:20 Though it may seem difficult to attain this harmony, because I, Oyagami, will gradually offer My protection, its realization is beyond any doubt. *Note: To describe the historical context at the time when these particular verses of the Ofudesaki where written in 1869, people were uneasy and deeply suspicious of the new government that “restored” the emperor in the previous year. There were those who swore their allegiance to the new government on the outside while secretly harboring their loyalty to their former lords. Regarding this situation, Oyagami expresses in the two verses above (1:19–20) the desire for the minds of all human beings to return to one surely sometime in the future, creating a stable world and about what is implied with the protection of Tsukihi-Oyagami.

『おふでさき註釈』、pp. 7–8 一九、これからは、上に立つ人々は、心を平静にして互に融和しなければならない。 二〇、この融和は難しいようであるが、次第に親神が守護するから、やがて実現するに違いない。 註　当時即ち明治二年の頃は威信創業の際で、人心不安で疑惑深く、表面新政府に帰順しながら、内心歴代君候の恩を思うてひそかに事を謀る者があり、果たして平穏に藩籍奉還が実行出来るかと憂えられた位であった。 右二首のお歌はこの国情に対して、親神様は、将来人心必ず一に帰して安定すべきを念い、月日親神様の守護をまたそれにある事を述べられたものである。

Commentary by Yoshitaro Ueda (2008)

From Michi no dai: Foundation of the Path 32:37–8 (Delivered on January 28 and February 27, 2008 at Seminar for Chairwomen of Directly Supervised Chapters and Diocese Chapters)

1:19–20 In 1869, the dust had yet to settle in the aftermath of the Boshin War. The verse says that “those in high places”—i.e., people who are in the ruling classes—should calm their minds and “make peace,” that is, achieve a reconciliation. Although this may appear difficult to accomplish, by God’s blessings it will be achieved step by step.

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