Ofudesaki 06:032

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 06:032 is a verse from the Ofudesaki. The English translation below is the sixth edition translation.

Content

At the origin were a fish and a serpent in the muddy ocean.	kono moto wa doro umi naka ni uo to mi to	このもとハ　どろうみなかに　うをとみと
I drew them up and began the first couple.	sore hiki-dashite fūfū hajimeta	それひきだして　ふう／＼はちめた

Alternate English translations

Third Edition

Originally it was a muddy ocean and I found therein a fish and a serpent. Drawing them forth, I created the first husband and wife.

Inoue/Eynon

Originally, in the muddy seas were a merman and a white snake. Drawing them out,I created husband and wife.

Commentary

Ofudesaki chushaku

• See Ofudesaki chushaku 06:029–51

Yoshitaro Ueda (2009)

From Michi no dai: Foundation of the Path 35:73

“At the origin,” God drew forth “a fish and a serpent” that were in the muddy ocean and made them into the models of husband and wife. The Story of Creation included in the Besseki lecture begins, incidentally, by saying, “In the beginning, the world was a muddy ocean.” There were only “loaches” therein. Such was how things were prior to creation.

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