増上寺近くの愛宕山からの景色です。
愛宕山は海抜26メートルの小さな山。
その頂上に愛宕神社があります。
This is the view from the top of Mt. Atago near Zojoji-temple.
愛宕山は海抜26メートルの小さな山。
その頂上に愛宕神社があります。
This is the view from the top of Mt. Atago near Zojoji-temple.
The mountain is not so high, only 26 meters above sea level.
On top of it is Atago Shrine.
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| 愛宕山 Mt.Atago |
愛宕山は小さな山ですが、高いビルなどない江戸時代には江戸市中、さらには遠く江戸湾まで一望できたようです。海に浮かぶ白い帆がのどかですね。
Though the mountain is not so high, people in the Edo period could enjoy a nice view of the city and the sea beyond it, as there were no high buildings in those days. Look at the blue sea and those peaceful white sails.
Though the mountain is not so high, people in the Edo period could enjoy a nice view of the city and the sea beyond it, as there were no high buildings in those days. Look at the blue sea and those peaceful white sails.
でもこの絵でまず気になるのは一番前の奇妙な人ですよね。
頭に被った兜は、逆さにしたざる。鏡餅のように橙や昆布などで飾っています。すりこぎが刀、そして大きな大きなしゃもじを持っていますよ。
But the first thing we notice in this Hiroshige's picture is the strange looking man in the front. Right?
He is wearing a strange helmet; an upside-down basket decorated with a daidai-orange, Konbu-seaweed, and such things. Those are the things we decorate Kagami-mochi for the New Year's Day. He is holding a wooden pestle for a sward and a big, big rice scoop.
この人物は山の下の別当寺、円福寺で強飯式を終えて帰ってきたところです。
強飯式は毎年1月3日に行われ、僧侶に山もりの飯を食べるよう強要するというものでした。
今でも日光輪王寺で4月に行われていますが、愛宕神社ではもう行われていないようです。（円福寺は廃仏毀釈で廃寺となりました。）
This is a man who is just coming back up the steps to the shrine after the ritual called Gohan Shiki (Rice Meal Ceremony) at the adjoining temple, Enpuku-ji down the mountain. The ritual was held on January 3 every year. At Enpuku-ji, he forced the priests there to eat a heap of rice. This ritual, Gohan Shiki is still held at Rinno-ji temple in Nikko(in April). But not at the Atago-shrine any more.
というわけで、愛宕神社に行ってきました。
So, I went to Atago Shrine.
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愛宕神社への階段は「出世の階段」といわれています。なぜでしょう？
The steps to the shrine is called "Steps for Success". Why?
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1634年のことです。3代将軍家光が増上寺を訪れての帰り道、この山の下を通りかかりました。春の早いころで、山上には梅が咲いています。将軍は一枝を所望されました。でも家臣たちは急こう配の階段を見て、ちょっと躊躇。馬でこんな階段を上るなんて、ひょっとしたら死んでしまうかもしれません。と、一人の武士が馬で飛び出していきました。それは四国丸亀藩の家臣で曲垣平九郎（まがきへいくろう）という者。無事に梅の一枝を差し出した平九郎を家光は「まことにあっぱれ」とほめ、馬術名人として彼の名は一日にして全国にとどろいたとか。
Here's the story. In 1634, when the third Shogun Iemitsu was on his way back from Zojoji-temple, he came by this mountain. It was the early spring. On the mountain, he saw plum-trees in bloom. He ordered his men to get him its branch. His men, on their horses, all hesitated because the steps were so steep to climb on their horses. One would be dead if he fell. Then one Samurai darted off. The Shogun asked who it was. It was Magaki Heikuro, an unknown Samurai from Marugame clan. He safely brought back a branch to Shogun. Shogun praised him of his horse-riding skill, and he became a hero overnight.
Here's the story. In 1634, when the third Shogun Iemitsu was on his way back from Zojoji-temple, he came by this mountain. It was the early spring. On the mountain, he saw plum-trees in bloom. He ordered his men to get him its branch. His men, on their horses, all hesitated because the steps were so steep to climb on their horses. One would be dead if he fell. Then one Samurai darted off. The Shogun asked who it was. It was Magaki Heikuro, an unknown Samurai from Marugame clan. He safely brought back a branch to Shogun. Shogun praised him of his horse-riding skill, and he became a hero overnight.
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| 平九郎になれます、あるいは馬にもね。You can be a hero, or a horse. |
さすがに階段は急こう配です。
Hmm...the steps look steep!
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脇には女坂といわれる少し緩やかな階段もありますが…
On its side, they also have Women's Steps, which look more gentle.
On its side, they also have Women's Steps, which look more gentle.
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でももちろん、ここは出世の階段を上りましょう！
ちょっと怖いほどの階段です。ゆっくり上りました。
（ちなみに階段の真ん中は神様がお通りするところなので端を上りましょう、とのことです。）
But of course, I had to go for Success Steps!
ちょっと怖いほどの階段です。ゆっくり上りました。
（ちなみに階段の真ん中は神様がお通りするところなので端を上りましょう、とのことです。）
But of course, I had to go for Success Steps!
I climbed up carefully. It was kind of scary.
(By the way, you are not supposed to walk in the middle of the steps. Spare it for Gods.)
(By the way, you are not supposed to walk in the middle of the steps. Spare it for Gods.)
やれやれ、上りきりました！
Phew! I am on top of the steps.
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| たっかいですね！ It looks so high. |
ところで、愛宕神社のホームページによれば明治以降3人の人が実際にこの階段を馬で上ることに成功しているそうです。すっごいですね！
I learned from the shrine's website that three men tried and succeeded to climb up these steps on their horses in 1882, 1925 and 1982. How dare they could!
I learned from the shrine's website that three men tried and succeeded to climb up these steps on their horses in 1882, 1925 and 1982. How dare they could!
愛宕神社は1603年家康により創建されました。
Atago Shrine was built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
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| 丹塗りの門 a gate to the main shrine |
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| 社殿 Main Shrine |
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| 灯りがいい雰囲気です nice atmosphere |
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| 池とボートと鯉 A pond, a boat and hungry Koi fish |
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| お守りを置いたカウンターで猫が寝ていました A cat in the middle of Omamori, |
さて、頭にざるをかぶった男を写真に入れることができなくて残念ではありますが、これが今回の写真です。
It's a shame I couldn't have a man with a basket on his head in my picture, but this is how it looks now.
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木々が少ない冬でもここから東京湾を見ることはもうできないと思います。
でもこの小さな山の上の愛宕神社は大都会ののどかなオアシスですね。
Even in winter, without those green trees, I don't think I can see the sea from here.
でもこの小さな山の上の愛宕神社は大都会ののどかなオアシスですね。
Even in winter, without those green trees, I don't think I can see the sea from here.
But still, this shrine on a little mountain was a peaceful oasis in a big city.
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2 comments:
愛宕神社 それを見た瞬間、上尾市にもあったことに気がつきました。インターネットで検索したら沢山ありました。「出世の階段」は、登りたくもあり、登りたくもなしの状態です。いつも、歴史の勉強をさせていただいています。それに、初めてハサミを見て、感心しました。
キャラメルさん
本当だ。今調べてみたら上尾市にもあるし、あちこちいろいろなところにもあるんですね。そうだったんだ。私も知らないことばかりです。
コメントありがとうございます。
またよかったら見てくださいね。
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