千光寺の巨岩には時の鐘を偲ばせる歌などが刻まれている A song reminiscent of the bell of time is engraved on the giant rock of Senko-ji Temple.

この度の尾道取材旅行で最初に訪れた名所は、やはり海の川といわれる尾道水道を見渡せる大宝山の中腹にある千光寺。予定ではロープウエーで上がる予定でいたが、尾道訪問の日から3週間ロープウエーが安全点検のため運休。ロープウエーから見下ろす景色を楽しもうと思ったがやむを得ずタクシーで向かった。乗車時間は15分ほどで公園入口に着いた。

The first place I visited during this trip to Onomichi was Senko-ji Temple on the hillside of Mt. Daiho, which overlooks the Onomichi Channel, which is also called the sea river. The plan was to go up on the ropeway, but the ropeway was suspended for safety inspection for 3 weeks from the day of visiting Onomichi. I wanted to enjoy the view from the ropeway, but I had to take a taxi. The boarding time was about 15 minutes and I arrived at the park entrance.

目的は千光寺への参拝と、ご住職に千光寺について取材をさせていただき千光寺の周辺を撮影させていただくことだった。公園から千光寺までのわずかな間で海や山々の雄大な景色が目に飛びこんできた。タクシーを降り公園の入口で迎えてくれたのが、尾道名物の野良猫たち。寄ってくるわけでもなく逃げるわけでもなく、悠然とよそ者を見るかのような目を向けベンチに座っていた。

The purpose was to worship at Senko-ji Temple and to have the chief priest interview Senko-ji Temple and take a picture of the area around Senko-ji Temple. A magnificent view of the sea and mountains came into my eyes in a short distance from the park to Senko-ji Temple. Onomichi's famous stray cats welcomed me at the entrance of the park after getting off the taxi. Cats didn't come near or run away, cats sat on the bench with eyes as if cats was looking at a stranger.

そして尾道市美術館を横目で見ながら千光寺境内へ。本堂へ行く山沿いの道から臨む景観は、箱庭的都市といわれている所以の一端を見せてくれる。そこには、ご老人が立ち眺めておられた。聞くと、毎朝の散歩コースで、この景色を見て一日が始まるという。その方にとっては、暮らしの中の風景になっているようだ。

Then, while looking sideways at the Onomichi City Museum of Art, head to the precincts of Senko-ji Temple. The view from the mountain road leading to the main hall shows a part of the reason why it is said to be a miniature garden city. An old man was standing there. I heard that the day starts with this scenery on the walk course every morning. For that person, it seems to be a landscape in their daily lives.

歩いていると山肌にでかい岩が見えた。目に留まったのが岩に刻まれている歌の一節。

As I was walking, I saw a huge rock on the mountain surface. What caught my eye was a passage of a poetry engraved on the rock.

それは that is

岩のまに
古きほとけのすみたまふ
千光寺山かすみたりけり

Iwa no mani
Furui Hotoke no Sumitamafu
Senkojiyama Kasumitarikeri

その横に解説の木の板看板が立てられてあったので、それを参照させていただくと―
小杉放庵という人が書いた歌とあった。明治・大正・昭和の時代に活躍した画家で、この歌は終戦後、尾道を訪ねたときに書き記したもの。

There was a wooden board signboard next to it, so if you refer to it- It was a poetry written by a person named Kosugi Hoan. A painter who was active in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, this poetry was written when he visited Onomichi after the end of the war.

そしてその先の岩にも歌が刻まれていた。
And the poetry was engraved on the rock beyond that.

音に名高い千光寺の鐘は
一里聞こえて二里ひびく

The bell of Senko-ji Temple, which is famous for its sound
we can hear ichiri and niri

作者不明のようだが、みなと尾道でうたわれ続けた俚謡(りよう／民間で歌い伝えられた歌、さとうた、俗謡)の一つ。千光寺の時の鐘は、尾道で育ったものには忘れられないもの。沖合の船上で働いていた人たちもこの鐘の音を聞き励みにしたといわれている。

It seems that the author is unknown, but it is one of the poetries that have been sung in Minato Onomichi (Riyo / folk songs, Satouta, folk songs). The bell at the time of Senko-ji is unforgettable for those who grew up in Onomichi. It is said that the people who worked on board the ship offshore were also encouraged to hear the sound of this bell.

大みそかには標高140mの山空の千光寺から除夜の鐘が周辺の山々や尾道水道に響きわたる。22時30分よりご住職の読経がはじまり、それに続いて除夜の鐘が始まる。24時には2022年の新年を告げる鐘が八つ鳴る。その鐘の音が尾道の山々、街々に一年の安全祈願の守護鐘として鳴り響くことだろう。

Joya no kane echoes in the surrounding mountains and Onomichi Suido from Senko-ji Temple in the mountain sky at an altitude of 140 m in New Year's Eve. The priest's sutra chanting begins at 22:30, followed by the joya no kane. At 24:00, eight bells will ring to announce the new year of 2022. The sound of the bell will ring in the mountains and towns of Onomichi as a guardian bell for a year's safety prayer.

リポート&写真/ 渡邉雄二　Reported & Photos by Yuji Watanabe

尾道・文化紀行ブログ／　https://asulight0911.com/hiroshima_onomichi/