翻刻
相承候次第夫々申立有之付宗意をも解違ひ我意申張候者共は御仕置も被
仰付其餘之門末之内心得違之者は門跡ゟ追々教化有之候様奉行所ゟ申達候事
に付諸国之使僧等指向及教化候手続に相成候処越前国村々に而は本山教化之趣
致会得兼候儀有之右使僧をも相拒候故本山存寄に而は祖師之安心聊も取違ひ
に而は帰依いたし候證も無之様にも可相成と不便に存則末寺共之内呼出候得共不罷出
由に付不得止事奉行所へも教化難行届候趣申出有之も無余儀始末に候当門跡
争始之消息と今度門跡ゟ可相達趣之宗意安心とは違ひ候哉に相疑候様にも
相聞候得共門跡ゟ二途之教化は有之間敷甚不審致事に候間今般奉行所ゟ呼
出有之候は幸候事故早々罷出請持候安心之趣は勿論右疑敷存会得いたし兼候廉
々委敷申立候はヽ速に正邪も相分り其方共兼而帰依致し候正義も速に相立本望相叶
可申候処呼出之日延等相願候段無此上心得違之至に候素御法度宗門之外宗意安心
等之儀は 公儀におゐて強而御指図無之事に候得共畢竟宗意安心解方不宜者
有之二途に相成人等難相治門跡手限に而不行届により不得已
公儀へ御吟味之儀被相願候事に而尤門末教化筋之儀を 公儀へ申立候段門跡に
おゐて深く恐入候次第に候其方共儀も早々致出府挙而宗意研究可致本意に
可有之候処大勢集り達而呼出猶予等相願候段第一
公儀へ甚被及不法候にも相当り不軽心得違に候間呼出之者共は早々出府可致相残候もの
共にても此上願筋有之候はヽ惣代両三人を以委細可申立早速奉行所へ申立可遣趣利
害可申聞事
別紙 表向申渡相済候上支配頭ゟ猶又利害可申聞覚
只今申渡候通今般江戸表におゐて厚 御苦労に思召 御手元ゟも格別
御世話被成下候上之事に候得は最早此上 公儀へ被仰達事も無之可奉之察事に候
左候得は一同不及是非儀相弁可事に候此上は京都本山へ法中共初俗門徒ともゟ
願下ヶ候儀相願本山に而聞届有之 公儀御奉行所へ其段被相達候はヽ可然義
右之内存有之候はヽ幸之時節今度 公儀ゟも御利害にも尚門跡争始之
消息と今度門跡ゟ可相達趣之宗意安心とは違候哉に相疑候様にも相聞候得とも
門跡ゟ二途之教化は有之間敷と有之候得は安心相違無之事眼内に有之候
此上疑心を晴し右等之処を得と存詰此度願下ヶ之儀取組候に迚も先達而正徳寺
請持来り候四ヶ條附紙会廻り之和融存念は握捨
公儀御奉行所御利害通并 御国主様御憐愍通無此上重キ御事に候得は
難有奉感伏従ひ是迄本山ゟ手違之取斗有之候とも其儀は指置御国法御憐愍
存詰可申儀一同兼而之存寄にも相叶可申事に候
現代語訳
相承した次第についてそれぞれ申し立てがあったことから、宗意を解釈違いし我意を主張する者共には御仕置きも仰せ付けられ、その余りの門末のうち心得違いの者は門跡から追々教化があるよう奉行所から申し達したことにより、諸国の使僧等が指向して教化に及ぶ手続きとなったところ、越前国の村々では本山教化の趣旨を会得しかねることがあり、右の使僧をも相拒んだため、本山の存じ寄りでは祖師の安心をいささかも取り違えては帰依した証も無きようにもなりかねないと不便に存じ、則ち末寺共のうちを呼び出したが罷り出ないということで、止むを得ず奉行所へも教化が行き届き難い趣を申し出ることになったのもやむを得ない始末である。当門跡争い始めの消息と今度門跡から相達すべき趣の宗意安心とは違うのかと相疑うようにも相聞こえるが、門跡から二途の教化はあるまじきことで、甚だ不審に致すことである。今般奉行所から呼び出しがあったのは幸いなことゆえ、早々罷り出て請け持った安心の趣は勿論のこと、右の疑わしく存じ会得しかねる廉々を委しく申し立てれば、速やかに正邪も相分かり、その方共がかねて帰依致した正義も速やかに相立ち本望が相叶うであろうところ、呼び出しの日延等を相願う段は、この上ない心得違いの至りである。そもそも御法度宗門の外、宗意安心等の儀は公儀において強いて御指図無きことであるが、畢竟宗意安心の解し方がよろしくない者があり、二途に相成り人等を治め難く、門跡の手限りでは行き届かないため止むを得ず公儀へ御吟味の儀を相願ったことであって、もっとも門末教化筋の儀を公儀へ申し立てた段は門跡において深く恐れ入る次第である。その方共の儀も早々出府致し、挙げて宗意研究すべき本意にあるべきところ、大勢集まり達して呼び出し猶予等を相願う段は、第一に
公儀へ甚だ不法に及ぶことにも相当り、軽くない心得違いであるから、呼び出しの者共は早々出府すべきである。相残る者共にてもこの上願い筋があれば、総代両三人をもって委細を申し立て、早速奉行所へ申し立て遣わすべき趣を利害として申し聞かせること。
別紙 表向き申し渡し相済んだ上で支配頭からなお又利害を申し聞かせる覚え
ただ今申し渡した通り、今般江戸表において厚く御苦労に思し召され、御手元からも格別御世話を成し下された上のことであるから、最早この上公儀へ仰せ達することも無きものと拝察する。そうであれば一同是非に及ばぬ儀と相弁ずべきことである。この上は京都本山へ法中共をはじめ俗門徒共から願い下げの儀を相願い、本山にて聞き届けがあり、公儀御奉行所へその段を相達すればよろしき義で、右のうち存じがあれば幸いの時節である。今度公儀からも御利害にもなお門跡争い始めの消息と今度門跡から相達すべき趣の宗意安心とは違うのかと相疑うようにも相聞こえるが、門跡から二途の教化はあるまじきとあれば、安心に相違無きこと眼前にある。この上疑心を晴らし右等のところをよく存じ詰めて、この度願い下げの儀に取り組むにしても、先達て正徳寺が請け持ち来った四ヶ条付紙会回りの和融存念は握り捨て、公儀御奉行所の御利害通り並びに御国主様の御憐憫通り、この上なく重き御事であるから有り難く感服し奉り従い、これまで本山から手違いの取り計らいがあったとしても、その儀は指し置き、御国法御憐憫を存じ詰めるべき儀は一同かねての存じ寄りにも相叶うべきことである。
英語訳
Regarding the successive inheritance claims that were made, those who misinterpreted the religious doctrine and insisted on their own views were subjected to official punishment, while for the remaining temple followers who had misunderstandings, the magistrate's office communicated that the head abbot would provide gradual instruction. This led to procedures whereby emissary monks from various provinces would travel to provide religious guidance. However, in the villages of Echizen Province, there were difficulties in comprehending the main temple's teachings, and they even rejected these emissary monks. The main temple, concerned that even the slightest misunderstanding of the founder's spiritual peace could result in no evidence of proper devotion, summoned some of the branch temples, but they failed to appear. Consequently, it became unavoidable to report to the magistrate's office that religious instruction could not be properly implemented - an regrettable situation. While it may seem as though the current head abbot's initial correspondence regarding the dispute differs from the religious doctrine and spiritual peace that the head abbot should now communicate, since the head abbot states there should be no dual-path instruction, this is deeply suspicious. The current summons from the magistrate's office is fortunate, so if you promptly appear and clearly explain not only the spiritual peace you maintain, but also thoroughly present those doubtful points you cannot comprehend, right and wrong will quickly be distinguished, the righteousness you have long devoted yourselves to will swiftly be established, and your sincere wishes will be fulfilled. However, requesting postponement of the summons date represents the ultimate misunderstanding. Originally, apart from prohibited sects, the government does not forcibly direct matters of religious doctrine and spiritual understanding. However, since there were those who poorly interpreted religious doctrine and spiritual peace, creating a dual path that made people difficult to govern, and since the head abbot's direct efforts were insufficient, it became unavoidable to request government investigation. The fact that temple follower instruction matters were brought before the government is something the head abbot deeply regrets. While your intention should be to promptly depart for the capital and thoroughly study religious doctrine together, the fact that large numbers have gathered to earnestly request postponement of the summons is, first and foremost,
tantamount to grave lawlessness toward the government and represents no light misunderstanding. Therefore, those summoned must depart for the capital immediately. Even for those who remain, if there are further petitions, they should present details through two or three representatives and promptly submit them to the magistrate's office - this should be explained as a matter of consequences.
Attachment: Memorandum for additional consequence explanations from the administrative head after completing the official announcement
As just announced, this recent matter involved great trouble and consideration in Edo, with special assistance from your end as well, so it can be surmised that there is nothing further to communicate to the government. In that case, everyone should understand this as an unavoidable matter. From now on, if clergy and lay followers petition the Kyoto main temple for withdrawal of the request, and the main temple grants this and communicates such to the government magistrate's office, that would be appropriate. If there are such intentions among you, this is a fortunate time. Although the government's consequences also mention that there may be suspicion about whether the head abbot's initial correspondence regarding the dispute differs from the religious doctrine and spiritual peace the head abbot should now communicate, since the head abbot states there should be no dual-path instruction, it is clear that there is no difference in spiritual peace. To clear these doubts and thoroughly understand these matters, even when engaging with this petition for withdrawal, the harmonious intentions of the four-article supplementary paper circulation that Shotokuji previously maintained should be set aside. Following the magistrate's office consequences and our domain lord's compassion, as this is an extremely weighty matter, we should gratefully submit in reverence. Even if there have been mishandled arrangements from the main temple until now, setting those matters aside, the matter of deeply contemplating domain law and compassion should accord with everyone's long-held intentions.