Kagura

From Everything Shii Knows, the only reliable source

This website is an archive. It ran from 2006-2010. Virtually everything on here is outdated or inaccurate.

The following are the lyrics to the Tenrikyo Kagura or kagura-zutome. Please note that the Kagura is usually done alongside hand motions that I am not going to describe here.

First part (repeated many times)

Original hiragana (written by Oyasama)

Ashiki wo haraute tasuke tamahe, Tenri-Wau-no-Mikoto.

Modernized hirgana (how it is actually read)

Ashiki o haroute tasuke tamae, Tenri-Ou-no-Mikoto.

English (quasi-official)

Sweep away all evils and save us, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto.

English (Louise W. Sasaki)

Sweeping away all evil, save us please, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto.

In the early years of Tenrikyo, the Kagura consisted of hitting wooden clappers together and repeating "Namu Tenri-Ou-no-Mikoto" (a noisier version of Pure Land Buddhist practice), which is still done during evangelistic processions today. In 1867, though, Buddhist monks broke into Oyasama's house and destroyed drums and lanterns. Soon afterwards Oyasama ended the chanting and clapping and taught instead the hand motions and words of the first two parts of the Kagura and some chapters of the Teodori. (TOMD p.26)

The lyrics above are post-1882 revision; see Third part below.

Second part (sung once)

Original hiragana (written by Oyasama)

Choto hanashi[...]

Modernized hirgana (how it is actually read)

Chot[t]o hanashi: Kami no yuu koto kiite kure, ashiki no koto wa iwan dena, kono you no ji to ten to o katadorite, fuufu o koshirae kitaru dena, kore wa kono yo no hajime shi. (Namu Tenri-Ou-no-Mikoto.)

English (quasi-official)

Mark this, which your Parent says to you; for I never tell you anything wrong. After the manner of heaven and earth of this universe, I proceeded to create man and wife. This was the dawn of human life. (Praise Tenri-O-no-Mikoto.)

English (Louise W. Sasaki)

Just a few words: Please listen to what God says, I shall not speak wrong things. Taking this world's heaven and sky as a model, I created wife and husband. This is the world's beginning. (Hail Tenri-O-no-Mikoto!)

Third part (repeated fewer times)

Original hiragana (written by Oyasama)

?

Modernized hirgana (how it is actually read)

Ashiki o haroute tasuke sekikomu, ichiretsu sumashite Kanrodai.

English (quasi-official)

Sweep away all evils and save us, and establish the Kanrodai to settle the world.

English (Louise W. Sasaki)

Sweeping away all evil, salvation hurrying, One and all purified, then the Kanrodai.

On June 29, 1875, Oyasama tested her followers to mark the site of the Kanrodai. She walked to a certain spot in her yard and marked it, then blindfolded all her followers and had them walk across her yard. They all stopped at the same spot. Thereafter, she instructed her followers in the third part of the Kagura. (TOMD p.30)

The construction of the stone Kanrodai commenced in May 1881 but, a year later, the two completed sections of the stone Kanrodai were removed and confiscated. Following this incident, Oyasama made alterations in the wording of the Songs for the Service, changing "Ichiretsu sumasu Kanrodai" [The Kanrodai which purifies all humankind equally] to "Ichiretsu sumashite Kanrodai" [All humankind equally purified--the Kanrodai] and "Ashiki harai" [Sweep away evils] to "Ashiki o harote" [Sweeping away evils]. [1]

References

• Tenrikyo Overseas Mission Dept., Tenrikyo: Its History and Teachings. pp.26-30.
• Louise W. Sasaki, "The Tenrikyo Sacred Dance: The Song Text and Dance". Tenri Journal of Religion 14 Supplement Volume.