英語訳
(Continuation of the explanation of the 御結鎮銭 / settlement ritual money) This was the 御結鎮銭, apportioned as an accumulation of one shō of offering rice (御供料米) per occasion for each attendance of the absent-post official (闕職), the district deity celebrant (氏神祝), and the district official (代官役) from the small festival (小祭) and its divine rites in the previous winter through the mounted archery ceremony (歩射). The remainder was distributed among the three individuals: Yasuteru, Keisen, and Suenori. ○ The 御結鎮銭 distributed to the district officials was three tan per person plus 240 mon, distributed today by the deputy official (目代). ○ Regarding the 幣取銭 (votive currency) for the district officials: just after the Hour of the Horse (around noon), Keisen alone (wearing hakama) went to the annual duty room (年番部屋) in the shrine compound and collected the shares for five persons. After nightfall, these were individually distributed at the government office (庁屋). ○ This evening, the consultation participant (語合の仁) and Hikkei (必顕), who was responsible for decorating the sacred shelf (御棚), were invited and dinner was served. The meal consisted of grilled fish (salted yellowtail), clear soup, salted sea bream, kelp, dressed vegetables, rice, and side dishes — all prepared from whatever was on hand. (Note: Although celebratory sake should properly be offered to those decorating the shelf, since the current year is a period of austerity, it was agreed that both sake and food should be provided at one's discretion — hence the meal was as described.) Around the Hour of the Monkey (around 4 p.m.), when notice came via a shrine attendant (神人) from the deputy official, the district official, Keisen, the shelf-decorator, and Hikkei each dressed in their ritual robes (浄衣) and, accompanied by one attendant (wearing hakama) carrying the necessary equipment, proceeded to the government office. (Note: Items such as pointed bamboo poles and small skewer-bamboo had been prepared in advance by Hikkei at his residence. The basket-boxes were omitted and not fetched; instead, everything was placed into document-box lids and sent.) First, the basket-boxes, one footed stand (有足), a lantern (行燈), and other items were procured. (Note: The footed stand properly belongs in the worship hall of the Nara Shrine, and is said to be kept in a small chamber; the lantern too should be fetched and kept at the residence.) The lantern had some damage and was slightly repaired.
Next, one vase (瓶子) was sent to be fetched from the shrine precincts, and four lidded offering boxes (御櫃) of the smaller shrines were procured from the offering kitchen (贄殿). The full set of ritual offerings (神供), including thin paper (薄様) and other items, along with all necessary equipment, was received in its entirety. Two persons together proceeded to arrange the decorations for the sacred shelf in order. From the residence were sent: ritual sake, simmered dishes, five varieties of food (dried salted cod, kelp, taro, grilled tofu, royal fern), and a mixed stew (ごた煮) containing processed fish (玉引), flathead fish (こち), ark clams, wheat gluten, arrowhead, and water parsley, among other ingredients. The mixed stew was prepared at the government office. Also, when the deputy official announced that the evening meal (夜食) was ready just past the Hour of the Boar (around 10 p.m.), participants took turns going to receive it. It was served inside a white curtain to the east of the government office, and consisted of grilled food (small skewers of salted yellowtail), clear soup (no variation; following precedent), rice, and chopsticks — this was the established menu for the meal. When this was concluded, around the middle of the Hour of the Rat (around midnight), all the decorations for the sacred shelf were completed. The portions to be distributed were handed out to each person; the田口 offerings were arranged; the sacred shelf was carried down and placed in the garden. At that point, the shelf-decorator Hikkei withdrew, and the basket-boxes, lanterns, and other items were returned to their proper place, while the remaining paper, cover-mats, Japanese cypress leaves, and all other equipment were cleared away to the official residence. At this time, Keisen, serving as the new fasting head person (新精進頭人), attended the ritual transfer of offerings (転供) at the sacred shelf assembly (御棚会). Accordingly, before this, the new head person had entered the area around the government office, and they were escorted together to attend the ceremony. ○ At the divine rites (御神事) of the sacred shelf assembly (御棚会), Yasuteru, of Senior Fourth Rank Lower Grade, serving in the roles of absent-post official and district deity celebrant and district official, was in attendance.