A Trip to Izumo by Sunrise Express #5 (28/Oct/2019-29/Oct/2019) ~ Izumo Taisha Shrine ①...

やっと個人で出雲大社を参拝する機会を持つことができた。添乗員時代に、毎年というわけではないが年に１，２度は訪ねていたと思う。自分が添乗員デビューを果たして、初めての宿泊ツアーが天橋立、出雲を訪ねる２泊３日の定番の山陰方面仕事だった。

記憶に鮮明なのはその時の一畑バスドライバーとガイドさん（佐々木さんだったかな）がとても良い方で、何かと不慣れな自分に優しく、リードしてくれていた。そんな自分が結局、９年も添乗員（９割海外だったが・・・）をやり続けたなんて。

これも出雲大社の神々へのお礼参りだと思う。

I finally made my own private trip to "Izumo Taisha Shrine".  When I was a tour escort, I regularly visited here one or two times a year though it wasn't every year. My first over night trip tour assignment was to "Izumo Taisha Shrine" and "Amano Hashidate" in Sanin region which is a very popular destination. 

What I clearly remember about it is to have worked with a very kind long-distance coach driver and an amazing bus guide (Ms. Sasaki, maybe...). I was so lack of experience then in leading tour groups, but they kindly helped me a lot. And later, my career lasted for 9 years...

So this is a trip for me to show my gratitude to the Gods of "Izumo Taisha Shrine". 

熊野大社を出て、折角だから宍道湖のそばを通りながら出雲大社に向かうことにした。途中、渋滞もあって予定よりも時間を要した。コンビニに立ち寄ったり、いたってマイペース。

いつもはバスドライバーさん任せ、駐車場も観光バス駐車場だった。今回はもちろん一般車両用の駐車場。だから、知らないルートを取ることで、個人旅行で初めて知る事が多い。

After leaving "Kumano Taisha Shrine", I took a route to "Izumo Taisha Shirne" driving along side of "Shinji Lake". I got caught with a small traffic jam somehow, and took me more time to get here, but by stopping at a convenience store, I enjoyed driving at my own pace. 

Coach drivers always took me to tourist sites as scheduled following the itineraries, and my "Izumo Taisha Shrine" visit normally started from the coach parking. So I learn new many things from my private trips taking unfamiliar routes. 

なんとか１５時までに到着することができた。今回初めて出雲大社の二の鳥居をくぐり、そして参道を歩き拝殿まで歩いて行くことができた。当時,観光バス駐車場から、神楽殿方面へ端折って参拝をするので、初めての経験だったような気がする。

この出雲大社はとても謎の多い神社。古代の社殿は４５ｍの高さの位置にあったという。これも、事実かはわからない。しかし、それを伝承を裏付ける社殿を支えたであろう柱が発見されている。拝祀されている神々の謎や、神在月やその神事など、興味に尽きない。しかし、今回はお礼参りと一之宮参りの御朱印を頂くことが主となる目的だ。

I made it to arrive here by 3 in the afternoon. Believe it or not, I passed though the 2nd shrine gate of "Izumo Taisha Shrine" for the first time, and walked though an approach to the prayer's alter, "Haiden". I used to enter the shrine directly from the tour coach parking, to take a short cut to the "Kagura-den", and then to the prayer's alter. So it was definitely my first time. 

There seems to be a lot of mysteries about the shrine.  It is said that the ancient main alter stood very tall at height of 45m.  Not sure if it is true, but pieces of huge wooden pillars was found and excavated sometime ago to support the ancient records. Also about the Gods enshrined there, "the Gods of Yaoyorozu" in "Kamiarizuki" month and its ritual festivals. So many interesting things, but the main purpose of this trip was to say "Thank you" all about my tour escort's career to the Gods of "Izumo Taisha Shrine" and to get the "Ichinomiya" shrine stamp. 

参道を歩きだしてしばらく進むと、「祓社（はらえのやしろ）」があった。小規模の神社は鳥居をくぐれば、手水舎で穢れを清めて拝殿で挨拶になるけれど、出雲大社のような規模の神社になれば、手水舎の付近にこの「祓社」がある。いつも行く奈良の大神神社もそうで、ここで祀られている祓戸４柱の神々に罪穢れを祓っていただいて、さらに手水舎でも自身を浄めて神前にお参りをする。

”祓いたまえ、清めてたまえ・・・”

要は、清浄な状態で神前で挨拶をしなければいけないということだ。

A bit later, I found "Harae no Yashiro" which enshrines 4 Gods of purification. In the shrines on a small scale, we directly approach to "Temizusha" where we purify ourselves with water in a certain matter. However, in the shrines on a big scale such as "Izumo Taisha Shrine", we finds this "Harae no Yashiro" around "Temizusha". "Oomiwa Shrine" in Nara that I regularly visit is the same. I firstly visit this shrine and ask them to purify me, and then purify me with water by myself at the "Temizusha". 

”Haraitamae Kiyometamae" (Please purify me from evil!)

The point is that we just don't approach the alter without purification. 

出雲大社の主祭神は”大国主命”（大己貴命）となっている。この大国主命と言えば「因幡の白兎」伝説が有名だ。結構面白く、突っ込みどころがある話だけれども、この話も実際にあった史実を曖昧に神話化されたお話だと考えている。

古事記の編纂にあたって、この大国主命を国譲りにおけるとても重要な神として、際立たせるために必要な話だったのではないだろうか？

The main God enshrined in "Izumo Taisha Shrine" is the God "Ookuninushi" ("Oonamuchi"). Speaking of the god "Ookuninushi" is a famous story of "Inaba no Shio-Usagki (A white rabbit in Inaba) ". A very interesting story, but some parts are contradictory which actual historical events might have been made into a ambiguous myth.  

In order to compile "Kojiki", the author had to create this story and the characters to make him stand out...?

”こんなウサギがいたんだ～！”

なんて思いながらちょっと参道を外れて写真を撮る。そして大国主命と須勢理毘売の「縁結びの碑」もあった。

”知らんかったわ～こんなんあるなんて・・・”

出雲大社は縁結びでとても有名だが、自分は”縁を結んでください～”と必死に願ったことはないと思うが、でも何かと良縁に恵まれ今があると思える。もちろんその良縁というのは恋結びだけというわけではなく、家族、友人同僚との関係であるのは言うまでもない。

出雲の神様、様様ですな・・・！

正美

≪つづく≫

"I didn't know that rabbits are here..."

Stepping off the path, I started taking photos of the statues of rabbits, and also found the stone monument of the God "Ookuninushi" and his wife, "Suseribime" symbolizing their Good Relationship. 

"I didn't know this one as well..."

"Izumo Taisha Shrine" is famous for receiving a good fortune in Relationship". I've never wished for some luck disparately, but it seems that I get it anyway. Of course, it is needles to say that good fortune in relationship is not only for love, but also for general relationship such as family, friends and colleagues. 

Thank you, Thank you to the Gods of Izumo...!

Masami

≪To be continued≫