【日本の神道】 自然との調和　自然発生的な宗教 Shinto in Japan: Harmony with Nature, a Spontaneously Emerging Religion

「神道」という呼び方

日本の神道は、その本質からして自然との深い結びつきを持つ宗教です。言葉そのものにもその特徴が表れています。「神道」の「神」は「霊妙な」という意味を持ち、「道」は「自然の理法」を指します。簡単に言えば、「神道」は「霊妙な自然の理法に従う」ことを意味しています。この「理法」は「節理」「法則」「真理」とも表現されることもあります。

The term "Shinto"

Shinto in Japan is a religious tradition deeply intertwined with nature at its core. This essence is reflected in the very language used to describe it. The term "Shinto" consists of two components: "kami," meaning "spiritual" or "divine," and "do," signifying "the natural order." In essence, Shinto can be succinctly defined as "following the spiritual and divine natural order." The term "natural order" may also be articulated as "reason," "law," or "truth."

しかし、「神道」の語そのものは、もともと中国で造られた熟語です。中国の文献に探求すると、「易経」や「観」掛の彖伝（たんでん）に、「天の神道を観るに、四季たがわず。聖人神道をもって教えを設け、そして天下服す」という記述が見つかります。

Indeed, the term "Shinto" itself is a compound word originally created in China. Exploring Chinese literature reveals passages in texts such as the "Yijing" (I Ching) and the 彖伝 (tandenshu) of the "Guān" hexagram, which state, "Observing the way of the divine in the heavens, it remains constant through the four seasons. The sage establishes teachings based on the divine way and thus brings the world under his rule."

【彖伝】たんでん
易の十翼の一。〔史記、孔子世家〕孔子にして易を喜(この)み、彖・・象・卦・言を序す

The term 彖伝 refers to one of the ten wings of the Yijing. According to historical records, Confucius admired the Yijing, and the 彖伝 covers the sequence of imagery, hexagrams, and explanations.

この文言によれば、「霊妙な自然の理法を見ると、四季の循環は変わらず。それゆえ、聖人はこの霊妙な自然の理法に従って政治を行い、教化を行えば、人々は皆、聖人に服従するだろう」とあります。ここで言う「聖人」とは、徳のある最高の為政者を指します。この考え方は古代の日本でも根付いており、自然の理法に従った政治が理想視され、徳のある天皇が理想とされました。

According to this passage, it suggests that when one observes the subtle and marvelous principles of nature, the cycles of the four seasons remain unchanged. Therefore, the sage, guided by these subtle and marvelous principles, governs with virtue, and through education, people will willingly submit to such governance. The term "sage" here refers to an exemplary ruler with virtuous qualities. This concept, deeply rooted in ancient Japan, idealized governance aligned with the principles of nature, with a virtuous emperor considered the epitome of this ideal.

神道と自然現象

日本の神道は、古来から自然物や自然現象に対して尊敬や畏怖の念を抱き、それらを神として崇拝してきました。太陽、月、星などの天体、風、雨、雷などの自然現象、そして山、川、海、滝、湖、人間、動物、植物、岩石などに神霊が宿ると信じられてきました。

例えば、和歌山県那智勝浦町の那須山にある熊野郡那智大社の別宮・飛龍神社は、外見は那智の滝を崇拝しているように見えますが、実際には滝を拝んでいるのではなく、飛龍権現（大己貴神）という神が滝に憑依し、滝として現れているとされています。これは、滝が神に変わるのではなく、神が滝として顕現しているという考え方です。

Shinto and Natural Phenomena

In Japan, Shinto has long embraced feelings of reverence and awe towards natural elements and phenomena, worshiping them as gods. Entities such as celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, as well as natural occurrences like wind, rain, and thunder, along with geographical features like mountains, rivers, seas, waterfalls, lakes, humans, animals, plants, and rocks, have been believed to house divine spirits.

For instance, the Hiryu Shrine, a subsidiary shrine of the Nachi Taisha located on Mount Nachi in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture, might appear to worship Nachi Falls. However, it is believed that the shrine is not directly venerating the waterfall; instead, it acknowledges the deity Hiryu Gongen (Ōnamuchi-no-kami), which is said to embody the waterfall. This perspective emphasizes that it is not the waterfall transforming into a god but rather the belief that a deity manifests itself as the waterfall.

同様に、「万葉集」に見られる例では、「雷」を「かみ」、「虎」を「虎という神」として記されています。これらも、雷や滝が神に変わるのではなく、神が雷や虎として現れるとされています。古代の人々は、雷や虎のように猛威を振るうものを神として崇拝していたのです。

Similarly, in examples found in the "Manyoshu" (万葉集), "雷" (thunder) is referred to as "kami" (神), and "虎" (tiger) is described as a "kami named tiger." In these instances, it is not that thunder or waterfalls transform into gods, but rather, gods are believed to manifest themselves in the form of thunder or tigers. Ancient people revered entities that exhibited formidable power, such as thunder or tigers, as manifestations of the divine.

自然の猛威と恵み

自然の中で最も恐ろしい存在とされたのは、地震、雷、津波などの自然現象でした。これらの猛威は計り知れないものであり、古くから「日本の風土に根ざした自然発生的な宗教」と言われています。その中でも最も恐れられたのが、地震と雷です。

地震は古語で、「なゐ」「なゐふり（地震り）」と表されています。「なゐ」とは地盤を指し、この地盤が震動することが地震です。地震は地上を揺るがす存在として、また雷はものすごい雷鳴で天を揺るがす存在として捉えられています。このような現象が震動することで神が現れるとされ、特に天神と呼ばれる雷が鳴って地上に降りると「霹靂（かむとけ）祭」が行われました。雷が落ちた木は「霹靂の木」と呼ばれ、神霊が宿る木として崇められました。

Nature's Wrath and Bounty

In the realm of nature, the most formidable forces were considered to be natural phenomena such as earthquakes, thunder, and tsunamis. These formidable forces were immeasurable and have long been associated with what is described as the "spontaneously evolved religion intrinsic to Japan's environment." Among these, earthquakes and thunder were particularly feared.

In ancient language, earthquakes were expressed as "nawi" or "nawifuri" (tremors). "Nawi" refers to the ground, and the shaking of this ground constitutes an earthquake. Earthquakes were perceived as a force that shakes the earth's surface, while thunder was seen as a presence that reverberates through the heavens with its mighty thunderclaps. It was believed that gods manifested through such phenomena, with a particular emphasis on thunder, often referred to as Tenjin (天神). When thunder, described as "kamutoke," resounded and descended to the earth, a festival known as "Hekireki-sai" (霹靂祭) was conducted. Trees struck by lightning were revered as "Hekireki no ki" (霹靂の木), considered sacred vessels inhabited by divine spirits.

霹靂の木

一方で、自然は人々に災害だけでなく、豊かな恵みももたらします。神道の祭りの多くは、この自然の恵みに感謝する内容で構成されています。

例えば、本居宣長の歌集「玉鉾百首」には、「たなつもの　百の木草も　天照らす日の大神の　めぐみこそ」とあります。

On the other hand, nature not only brings disasters but also bestows abundant blessings upon people. Many Shinto festivals are composed of expressions of gratitude for this natural bounty.

For instance, in Motoori Norinaga's poetry collection "Tamahoko Hyakushu," there is a verse that goes, "tanatsumono yao no kusamo amaterasu hi no ōkami no megumi koso," which can be translated as "The blessings of the great deity Amaterasu, illuminating the sun, are seen in the myriad trees and plants."

　本居宣長詠。古道精神を詠んだ100首と、「あまり歌」として歴史上の事件を詠んだ歌３２首を載せる。
The collection features verses composed by Motoori Norinaga, consisting of 100 poems that express the spirit of ancient paths and an additional 32 poems, categorized as "amari uta" or "excess poems," which delve into historical events.

In these verses, Norinaga encapsulates his profound interest in the traditions and spirit of ancient Japan, channeling his insights into poetic form. Possessing unique perspectives on Shinto and ancient culture, he infuses his philosophy into these poems. The "amari uta" focus on historical occurrences, crafting poetic narratives that capture the emotions and events of their respective eras.

この歌は、毎日いただく食物、特にお米や果物・野菜が、天上に照り輝く日の神・天照大御神の恵みによるものであることを表現しています。神道を信奉する過程では、食事をいただく前にこの歌を唱え、神や自然の恵みに感謝する瞬間が大切にされています。

This song expresses gratitude for the daily sustenance we receive, particularly rice, fruits, and vegetables, attributing their existence to the benevolence of Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess who radiates in the celestial realm. In the practice of Shinto, it is highly esteemed to chant this song before partaking in a meal, emphasizing the importance of moments where one expresses gratitude to the gods and the blessings of nature.

天照大御神

自然発生的な宗教

日本の神道は、自然との調和を重視し、自然界の中で神が現れ、恵みをもたらすという信仰が根付いています。この姿勢は、日本の風土に根ざした自然発生的な宗教であり、仏教やキリスト教のような教祖や経典がないことが特徴です。神道は、自然崇拝であると考えられることがありますが、それは単なる決めつけではなく、神が自然の中に宿り、人々と共に生きることを象徴しているのです。

The Shinto religion in Japan emphasizes harmony with nature, rooted in the belief that gods manifest within the natural world, bestowing blessings. This perspective characterizes Shinto as a spontaneously evolved religion intrinsic to Japan's environment, distinguished by the absence of founders or scriptures, unlike religions such as Buddhism or Christianity. While Shinto is sometimes regarded as a form of nature worship, it goes beyond mere ritualistic assumptions, symbolizing the idea that gods reside within nature and coexist with humanity.