賀茂競馬：2023年5月2日（火）

毎年５月５日に，京都市北区にある上賀茂神社では賀茂競馬（かもくらべうま）という競馬会神事が行われる。14世紀中頃に吉田兼好（兼好法師）が執筆した随筆集『徒然草』第四十一段にも，「五月五日，賀茂の競べ馬を見侍りしに，車の前に雑人立ち隔てて見えざりしかば，おのおの下りて，埒（らち）のきはに寄りたれど，殊に人多く立ち込みて，分け入りぬべきやうもなし。‥‥（以下略）」とある。当時も賀茂競馬の見物客で大変混雑していて，後ろからでは馬が競い走るのも見えなかったありさまが描写されている。

　この話の中では，あまりにも混雑していたので，そうしたのであろうか，ある法師が木に登り枝に座って居眠りをしており，今にも木から落ちそうになっている情景が登場する。それを見て，吉田兼好と居合わせた見物客の会話がこの話のトピックスとなっている（どんな主旨の話なのかは『徒然草』第四十一段を読んでみてほしい）。

　ところで，ある法師が木に登って枝に座っていたのであるが，その木の名前がセンダン（栴檀，オウチ）であることを最近になって知った。ある法師が木に登り枝に座って居眠りをしていたとされる，そのセンダンの木は何代目か分からないが，今も残されている。関心のある人は上賀茂神社に行った際に一度確認してみていただきたい。

　一方，毎年，上賀茂神社の敷地の中に，ひときわ高い木があり，４月になると紫色の花が咲くので，いつも通りがかりに「何の木だろう」と思っていた。山藤が木に絡んで咲いているのかとも思っていたりした。こちらは桐の花だった。

Kamo Horse Racing：May 2nd(Tuesday)

Every year on May 5th, a horse racing Shinto ritual called "Kamokurabeuma" is held at Kamigamo Shrine in Kita-ku, Kyoto City. In the 41st section of the essay collection "Tsurezuregusa," written by Yoshida Kenko (Kenko priest) in the mid-14th century, it is stated that "On May 5th, I went to see the Kamokurabe horse race. The common people stood in front of the carts and obstructed the view, so I got off and approached the fence, but there were so many people that I couldn't even get close...(omitted)." Even back then, there were so many spectators at Kamo Horse Racing that it was extremely crowded, and the description depicts a situation where even the horses competing couldn't be seen from behind.

In this story, because it was so crowded, a priest is said to have climbed a tree and dozed off sitting on a branch, and the scene of him almost falling from the tree is depicted. Seeing this, the conversation between Yoshida Kenko and the spectators who witnessed it became the topic of the story (please read section 41 of "Tsurezuregusa" to understand the theme of the story).

By the way, there was a priest who climbed a tree and sat on its branches; however, I recently learned that the name of that tree is "Sendan" (Japanese Judas tree, Cercis chinensis). It is said that a certain priest once climbed the Sendan tree, sat on its branches, and took a nap. I don't know which generation this Sendan tree is, but it still exists today. For those who are interested, I would like you to check it out when you visit Kamigamo Shrine.

On the other hand, every year, within the grounds of Kamigamo Shrine, there is a conspicuously tall tree, and in April, it blooms with purple flowers. I often passed by and wondered, "What kind of tree is that?" I even thought it might be wisteria entwined around the tree. However, it turns out to be the flowers of a paulownia tree.