本日も「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」シリーズ続篇。
　ビジネス生活では地域住宅雑誌を創刊しその事業を譲渡した人間として、自由な個人の探究に残りの人生時間を宛てたい。対価を得るわけではない個人ブログでその探究テーマを深掘り的にまとめておきたい。そういう心境で書いています。よろしく。
　家系史という領域は個人の内面探究と似た部分がある。文学小説では私小説という領域が近似するのかも知れない。しかし私小説のように「孤独を突き詰める」のとは違う。もう少しは社会性があると思います。一方、個人や近親者にとっては肉感的な躍動を感じる。昨日触れた「原山城跡」の発見などは無上の爽快感すらある。
　さて家系400年前「故地」広島県河内町入野にはこれまで出張のついでとかで２度ほど足を運んできている。２度目では少し広範囲に周辺を巡って写真の「竹林寺」も訪れていた。竹林寺というと2023年３月に四国高知の近郊にある同名の寺院をも訪れている。
　その記録もブログで書いています。https://kochihen.replan.ne.jp/?p=40020
　わたしの家系はこの入野から移動していった福山市今津町の寺院・蓮華寺に家系の墓地があり、その宗旨も真言宗。ただ尾道の商家「阿賀屋」の商家株を入手した当時数十年間は律儀にその一族の宗旨・浄土真宗に改宗していた。先祖の法名には両宗派が混在している。
　ただ故地・入野時代さらにそれ以前は真言宗だったと思われます。入野には安楽寺という真言宗寺院もあり、さらに地域本山のように「篁山・竹林寺」が北方の地にある。
　そしてこの「篁山」という山号にはこの地で平安期の文人・小野篁が生誕したことも伝承されているのだそうです。図のように「産湯の池」というものまで残っている。
　小野篁は「閻魔大王の右腕」という称号を得るほど、冥界とこの世を往復していたという奇人。遣唐使に選ばれた高級官僚で外交官家系に育った。漢籍が堪能で法律に詳しく「日本の白楽天」とも称された。日本三大美人の小野小町の祖父とも言われる。で、京都に上る前、この入野で生まれ誕生に際しての瑞夢譚も残されている・・・。
　どうもこの故地・入野、なかなかの結縁の地のようです。ふ〜む。

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拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
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English version⬇

【Lifetime Exploration Stop 3: “Chikurin-ji Temple” & Ono no Takamura Legend in Irino】
For Hokkaido natives, it’s an ancient temple and legendary tales steeped in an overwhelming sense of antiquity. A journey into history—a pilgrimage to the reverse frontier. …

　Today continues the “Four Hundred Years of Life’s Resume” series.
In my business life, I launched a regional housing magazine and later transferred that venture. Now, I wish to dedicate the remaining time of my life to free personal inquiry. I want to deeply explore and compile these themes in a personal blog, not for monetary gain. That’s the mindset with which I write. Thank you.
　The field of family history shares similarities with personal introspection. In literary fiction, it might be akin to the realm of autobiographical novels. However, it differs from the “pursuit of solitude” found in autobiographical novels. I believe it possesses a bit more social dimension. On the other hand, for individuals and close relatives, it carries a palpable, visceral energy. Discoveries like yesterday’s mention of the “Haramayama Castle Ruins” even bring an unparalleled sense of exhilaration.
Now, regarding my family’s ancestral home in Hirano, Kawachi Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, 400 years ago, I’ve visited twice before, mostly on business trips. On the second visit, I explored a wider area and also visited the “Chikurinji Temple” pictured here. Speaking of Chikurinji, I also visited a temple of the same name near Kochi City in Shikoku in March 2023.
　I wrote about that experience on my blog too. https://kochihen.replan.ne.jp/?p=40020
　My family lineage moved from this Inno area to Imazu-cho, Fukuyama City, where our family graves are at Renge-ji Temple, also Shingon sect. However, for several decades after acquiring shares in the merchant house “Aga-ya” in Onomichi, my family dutifully converted to the Jodo Shinshu sect, which was that merchant family’s faith. My ancestors’ Buddhist names reflect both sects.
It seems our faith was Shingon during the Inno period and earlier. In Irino, there is also a Shingon temple called Anrakuji, and further north lies “Kōzan Chikurinji,” revered as a regional head temple.
It is said that the mountain name “Kōzan” (Bamboo Grove Mountain) is also associated with the legend that the Heian-period scholar Ono no Takamura was born in this area. As shown in the illustration, a place called the “Birthwater Pond” even remains.
　Ōno no Takamura was an eccentric figure said to have traveled between the underworld and this world so frequently he earned the title “Right Hand of King Yama.” He was a high-ranking official selected for the mission to Tang China, raised in a diplomatic family. Proficient in Chinese classics and knowledgeable in law, he was also called “Japan’s Bai Juyi.” He is also said to be the grandfather of Ono no Komachi, one of Japan’s Three Great Beauties. And before heading to Kyoto, he was born here in Irino, where tales of auspicious dreams surrounding his birth remain…
Hmm, it seems this ancestral land of Irino holds quite a special connection. Hmm.

●Notice
My book “Writers and Living Spaces” published as an e-book by Gentosha
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 1月 15th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類