北斗南星位不殊（ほくとなんせいくらいことならず）
北斗七星と南斗六星はそれぞれがあるべきところにあって、どちらが偉いのでもない。
The Big Dipper and the Southern Dipper each occupy their rightful place, neither being superior to the other.
北野天満宮の茶会
今月中旬に北野天満宮で行われた茶会では表千家のお茶席がかかっており、そのときのお軸が表千家九代家元の了々斎筆による「北斗南星位不殊」でした。
北野天満宮の茶会は豊臣秀吉が開始したものですが、４００年経った今でも茶会が続いているとは秀吉も思わなかったであろうと表千家の席主を務められていた宗匠がおっしゃっていました。
また、去年は了々斎の２００年忌でもありました。了々斎（1775-1825）は江戸時代後期に紀州徳川家十代徳川治宝（はるとみ）に仕え、今の表千家家元の門となっている武家門を拝領しました。
Tea Ceremony at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine
In mid-month, a tea gathering was held at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine, hosted by the Omotesenke school. The hanging scroll displayed on that occasion bore the inscription “The Big and Southern Dippers Hold No Superiority,” written by Ryōryōsai, the ninth-generation head of the Omotesenke school.
The tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine was initiated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The master who presided over the Omotesenke ceremony remarked that even Hideyoshi himself probably never imagined it would still be held 400 years later.
Last year also marked the 200th anniversary of Ryōryōsai’s death. Ryōryōsai (1775–1825) served Tokugawa Harutomi, the tenth head of the Kishū Tokugawa clan, during the late Edo period and was granted the samurai gate that now serves as the entrance to the Omotesenke tea rooms and residence.
世界平和を祈る
この日の北野天満宮には海外の方々も含めて多くの観光客が茶会にも参加されており、閉幕直前であった万博とあわせての観光で関西に来られた方も多かったようです。
棗の模様も鳩であり、席主は世界平和への祈りをテーマとされていたのかと感じました。
Praying for World Peace
On this day, many tourists, including visitors from overseas, participated in the tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine. Many seemed to have come to Kansai for sightseeing, timing their visit with the closing days of the Expo.
The natsume (tea caddy) was also decorated with a dove motif, which led me to feel that the host had chosen prayers for world peace as the theme.
みんな違ってみんなよい
お軸の「北斗南星位不殊」は、禅の公案集『碧巌録』第５０則にある言葉だそうですが、北斗七星も南斗六星もみな、それぞれあるべきところにあって、そして北極星を中心とする天の公転という秩序に従って、それぞれの位に違いはなく、つまりどちらが偉いというものではないということを意味します。みんな違ってみんなよい。それぞれ異なるけれども、この地球上の秩序の中で共に穏やかに幸せに生きられることへの祈りがあるのかと感じました。
Everyone is Different, Everyone is Good
The hanging scroll’s phrase “The Big Dipper and the Southern Dipper are not different in rank” comes from the 50th koan in the Zen collection The Blue Cliff Record. It signifies that both the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper and the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper are each in their proper place, following the cosmic order of celestial rotation centered on the North Star. Thus, there is no difference in their stations; neither stands above the other. Each is unique, and each is good. Though all are distinct, I sensed in it a prayer for all to live peacefully and happily together within the order of this world.
