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The '''Service''' (''Tsutome'') refers to the central rite in [[Tenrikyo]] and, along with the [[Sazuke]], considered as one of the two main components of what is called the "[[path of single-hearted salvation]]."<ref name="D"/>
== Analysis of the word "Tsutome" ==
Often preceded in Japanese with the honorific prefix "''o''" [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%BE%A1#Japanese 御], it is a convention in Tenrikyo to write "''o-Tsutome''" in [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese_hiragana.htm ''hiragana'']: おつとめ. The [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese_kanji.htm ''kanji''] that is most commonly associated with the term is [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8B%A4 勤A4 勤], which is a character that means "religious service" when applied as a noun or "work for, be employed by, serve" when applied as a verb.<ref name="Spahn Hadamitzky"/> It may be notable to add that other religious Japanese traditions also refer to some of their rites as "''tsutome''."<ref name="?"/>
== Types of "Tsutome" ==
The "Tsutome"<ref name="TJ"/>, as it is understood in Tenrikyo, refers to the rite that was taught by [[Nakayama Miki|Oyasama]] as a means to bring salvation into reality, which is said to be one of [[Tenri-O-no-Mikoto|God the Parent]]'s main reasons for taking Oyasama as the [[Shrine of God]]. While there are several types of this "Tsutome," the fundamental and significant form which it takes is the Tsutome that is conducted with the [[Jiba]]-[[Kanrodai]] at center. This is the Tsutome that is generally referred to in Tenrikyo Scriptures and texts. In contrast to this "Tsutome," there are the daily services (morning/evening services) that were taught as a means to express one's gratitude and pray to God.
=== A description of the "Tsutome" itself ===
The Kagura Zutome is considered to be a reenactment of God's creation of human beings and its performance is believed to help manifest God's providence that was present at creation so it is directed for the purpose of human salvation. The Kagura is accompanied by the [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dcq3f5O7oCY-6XTgUXcyZDwgMzLQJ2hH2OoYCEJYRxA&hl=en&authkey=CI71sLQC first, second, and third sections of [Songs for the Mikagura-utaKagura]]. The first section Section One (''Ashiki o harōte'') is repeated 21 times, the second section Section Two (''Choto hanashi'') is performed once, and the third section Section Three (''Ichiretsu sumasu Kanrodai'') is repeated in three sets of sevens for a total of 21 times.
The Kagura comprises one shift (the first of three) of the Tsutome. Service dancers and performers of the musical instruments (six men and three women for a total of nine) rotate or switch with others with each shift.
:Service against Rebellion
Although Oyasama taught these forms of the Kagura, there are no records of several of them of ever being performed. While there are records of the Service of Rain being performed during Oyasama's lifetime<ref name="LO"/>, only the Service for Safe Childbirth and the Service for Germination are conducted at Tenrikyo Church Headquarters today.
=== Tsutome at regional churches ===
While the Songs for the seated service are repeated 21 times for the first section and performed once for the second section like the Kagura at Church Headquarters, the third section is repeated in three sets of threes for a total of nine times. The seated service is then followed by the Teodori. Church grand/monthly services are performed in the same three shifts in the same manner as they are done at Church Headquarters.
=== Daily tsutome ===
Daily services at Church Headquarters are usually timed near sunup and sundown; they tend to change throughout the year by 15 or 30 minute increments on the 1st and 15th on each month.<ref name="web"/>
=== Other "tsutome" ===
Another common service is a ''[[yohaishiki]]'' ("service from afar") held on the 26th for followers who are unable to return to Jiba for Grand/Monthly Services at Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. Finally, some services, such as those performed at regional Women's, Young Men's, and Boys and Girls conventions are referred to as "[[service practices]]."
=== "Service" as a gloss for "matsuri" ===
It may also be useful to mention that "service" is often a gloss for [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%A5%AD 祭] (''matsuri'' or or ''sai'', often rendered as "festival" in non-Tenrikyo literature) for terms that are not necessarily specifically referred to as "tsutome." To give examples:*''gantan-sai'' = "New Year's service"*''hokoku-sai'' = "dedication service" (of a church construction):*''shunin hokoku-sai'' = "installation service" (of a church minister):*''chinza hokoku-sai'' = "enshrinement service":*''seiritsu hokoku-sai'' = "service for the establishment of (a church, etc.)"*''mitama-sai'' = "memorial service"*''Oyasama go-tanjo-sai'' = "Oyasama Birth Celebration Service" (conducted only at Church Headquarters)*''taisai/daisai'' = "grand service"
*''tsukinami-sai'' = "monthly service"
Oyasama is also said to have explained that a festival (matsuri) has the meaning of the principle (''ri'') of waiting (''matsu'').<ref name="A"/>
== Further reading ==
*Nakayama Shozen. 1957. "Tsutome." In ''Zoku Hitokoto hanashi sono ni'', pp. 109–158 ([https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SGLU65o9BWWXko1pNsszxg-3ezR8waGPRhzIW8ZpTCA/edit?hl=en&authkey=CJyk97cD# link to online translation])
== External links ==
*''[http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/kaiden/newsletter/html/pub/yg.html Yoboku's Guide to Tenrikyo]''. Tenrikyo Overseas Department, [http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/kaiden/newsletter/html/tt7/service.html pp. 56-57].
== Notes ==
<ref name="TH">''Translation Handbook. Tenrikyo Overseas Mission Department, p. 88.</ref>
<ref name="Os">See Osashizu, March 3, [[Os 1889 (''An Anthology of Osashizu Translations'', p-03-31-09]] and [[Os 1889-03-31]]. 109)</ref>
<ref name="Os2">Previously unpublished translation of Osashizu, May 25, [[Os 1889-05-25]]. Original can be found in 1:426.</ref>
<ref name="web">For a list of these times, see ''[http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/kaiden/newsletter/html/pub/yg.html Yoboku's Guide to Tenrikyo]'', p. 83 or to the "[http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/international/?page_id=13 International Web Site of Tenrikyo]."</ref>
<ref name="A">''[[Anecdotes of Oyasama]], Foundress of Tenrikyo'', [http://tenrikyology.com/user/roy/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=366:59-festival&Itemid=31 no. 59].</ref>
