古都の風和道会・和のマナークラス、コロナ以来、久しぶりの現地開催でした。
It has been a while since I took my last face-to-face lessons of acquiring various traditional Japanese manners at the venue of a traditional wooden house in Kyoto.
今回のクラスでは「香袋と総角結びの吊るし飾り」を手作りしました。
This time, we had a lesson of making an original incense bag and a hanging decoration with a unique braided cord knotting motif, named “Agemaki-musubi.”
まずは、素敵な和柄のはぎれから、好きな生地を選びます。
First, selected two favorite cloths of mine from various Japanese patterns.
針仕事ちくちく、久しぶりのお裁縫タイム。
Prick, prick, needle crafting for the first time in a while!
そして、また新たな組み紐の結び方を習いました。
Then, I learned a new way of knotting a braided cord, named “Agemaki musubi.”
総角結びは、古の時代の男子の髪型（角髪みずら）に由来する結び方で、 敵の魔が入らないよう、魔除けとして、端午の節句の兜にも、よく使われる結び方です。
“Agemaki musubi,” is one of the techniques of braided cord knotting, whose shape originated with the unique Japanese hairstyle of young boys in ancient times, which has been used as a talisman attached to the back of a warrior’s helmets to prevent bad luck in the battle field.
この結び方も、二通りあり、
幸せや福を呼び込みたいときは「入型」を
また、命を守るための魔除けには「人型」で結ばれます。
今日結んだのは「人型」
There are two ways of this knotting style. One is to knot the braided cord in the shape of Chinese character, “入（Iri）,” which literally means “Come in,” wishing for many good lucks and the good fortune that comes in. This type of knotting is used for a braided cord attached to the furniture at shrines and the tufts of bamboo screens.
In the other way of knotting, the braided cord is tied up in the shape of “人(Hito),” which literally means “Humanbeing,” , like the style of this Agemaki-musubi. This knotting style is used for the decoration of warrior’s helmets and armor to protect a warrior’s life in the battlefield. This time, we tried "人型（Hitogata)."
組紐の他にも、お正月のしめ飾り、水引、おみくじ、御魂結びなどの祭祀や土器の文様etc・・・
You will see various knotting forms in Japan, such as a sacred straw festoon on New Year’s Day, mizuhiki cord decoration (an ancient art of tying various knots of decorative cords), tying up fortune paper strips, a ritual ceremony to tie spirits, and knotting rope patterns on the pottery in the Jomon period.
日本人にとって、大切な「結び」の文化
Japanese have cherished this “Musubi, or Knotting Culture” for a long time in their history.
古来より、人々は自然の姿を「結び」に現し、その偉大なる自然のエネルギーを
結びにより封じ、身に付ける事で、自身の生命力を高めていました。
Since ancient times, people have expressed various aspects of nature by the act of knotting which ends up sealing the power of great nature, and moreover, they have increased their vital force by wearing it.
結びの形に花が多いのは、美しく咲き誇る花々が、光り輝く、生命の象徴であったからなのだとか。
There are many flower patterns in the forms of knotting. This is because beautiful flowers in full bloom have been the symbol of the life which is shining brightly like the vital energy.
愛が結ばれ、命が生まれ、
そしてご先祖様が命を受け継いで下さるからこそ、代々その命が結ばれ
今を生きる私達がある
One is given life by a bond of love,
then the life has been inherited for generations thanks to our ancestors,
and that is why we exist now.
人と人の心が結ばれ 絆が生まれ
そして国と国が結び合い
こころ結ばれることで 世界が一つになる
We can deepen the bounds by connecting our hearts,
Which leads to the development of bonds between countries,
and eventually, our world will be one by the strong bonds altogether.
人々の生活に息づく結びの文化は、その結びの神秘的な力で和をもたらし、 時代や国、次元をも超えて、瞬時に「心」を繋いでくれる、大切な役割を担ってくれている気が致します。
I strongly feel that the “Knotting culture” seems to be carrying a vital role to connects our hearts instantly beyond the ages, countries, and dimensions, with the mystical power which will bring us harmony.
最後に小さく作った小袋に、匂い香を詰めて、完成です。
Finally, packed incense chips in a small handmade bag,
Then, it’s done!
「香り」も、人々の祈りや感性と「結び」ついてきた、文化ですね。
香りの文化については、また次回、まとめれればと思います。
The “Incense” is also a very important part of culture, in which the sense of smell has been “Bond”ed to our prayer and sensitivity.
I will talk about it next time.
町家のしつらえ、網代に細い竹の簾で、すっかり夏に変わっていました。 とても美しくて、涼やかです。
Machiya, a traditional town house in Kyoto, has changed all interior furnishings to its summer style, including bamboo mats with wickerwork and bamboo screens composed of extra thin bamboo branches.
It looks so beautiful and cool!
