16May09: Christopher McCabe

山を越えた夏遍路

長尾寺に集合したあと、皆でお遍路さんの白衣を身に付け、金剛杖をしっかり持った。大楠の下に立ち、お坊さんに長尾寺の歴史、例えば昔、長尾寺を庇護した高松藩主松平家の家紋が本堂に残っていることなどを教えていただいた。

長尾寺の
本堂飾る
葵紋

のんびりと前山ダムまで歩き、休憩をした。遍路サロンに入り周りの青々とした木々を眺めながら、お弁当を食べた。また歩き始めると空の雲が厚くなり、雨が降るかと心配したが、大胆にも山道を登り出した。登るに従って、自然がより豊かになり、鳥や猿などの野生動物を見かけたり、山畑では風に揺れる麦の穂が囁いているように聞こえた。

くるくると
風に乗る鳶
麦の秋

心配していた雨はあまり降らなかったが、女体山の頂上までの道はとても大変だった。しかし、山頂に立ち美しい風景を見下ろすと、とても感動的だった。八十八ヶ所の結願である大窪寺に着いたら、皆、白衣がびっしょりぬれていたが、かなり達成感を味わった。大師堂で参拝しながら年年歳歳八十八ヶ所に挑むお遍路さんを思い、とても感謝した。

大窪時
ぺたんと座る
夏遍路

The Summer Pilgrims Who Crossed the Mountain

After gathering at Nagaoji Temple, we all donned the white byakue vests worn by the pilgrims on the 88 Temple Circuit, and we firmly gripped our kongōjō pilgrim staffs. As we stood beneath a giant camphor tree, a monk from the temple taught us about the history of Nagaoji, including the fact that on the temple's main hall can still be found the family crest of the Matsudaira Clan - the feudal lords of Takamatsu who used to give patronage to the temple.

Nagao Temple-
Hollyhock family crest
Adorns the main hall

Relaxed and at ease, we walked to Maeyama Dam, where we took a break. At the "Henro Salon" there, we ate our packed lunches as we gazed at the verdant trees around us. As we set out again, the clouds in the sky darkened and we were afraid it might rain. Yet intrepidly, we carried on along the mountain road. As we climbed up the slope, the nature around us became ever more impressive. We spotted wild animals, such as birds and monkeys, and amongst the mountain farmers' fields, we heard the sound of golden stalks of wheat whispering in the wind.

Flying round and round
A black kite riding the wind-
Wheat harvesting time

In the end, the rain we had worried about never really came, but the final road up to Mt. Nyotai was quite difficult. However, it was extremely impressive to stand at the peak there and take in the beautiful scenery below. As we arrived at the final temple of the 88 Temple Circuit, Ōkuboji, our byakue were thoroughly drenched with sweat, and yet we all held a great feeling of accomplishment. While bowing in prayer at the Kobo-Daishi Hall of the temple, I thought about all of the pilgrims who trek along the entire 88 Temple Circuit throughout the year, and I could really appreciate their effort.

At Ōkuboji
A group of summer pilgrims
Slumps to take a rest