8
”平和の鐘”の歴史 The history of "Bell for Peace"
趣味・カルチャー
千葉県・いすみ市
鐘の歴史には、判然としないことが多々あった。そこでいすみ市役所に直接メールでお尋ねしたところ、学校教育課の方がわざわざYouTube動画の紹介に加え、貴重な資料を添付して御返事を送ってくれた。地域愛を実感しつつ、感謝の念が堪えない。以下、それを参考にして、鐘の歴史を御案内したい。
梵鐘は、1686年に当時の名工によって創作され、市内の根岸山にある長栄寺に収められた。側面には、工匠の名と、作製のために寄進した檀家の名とが刻印されている。
There are many facts about the history of the bell that are unclear. So, when I
emailed Isumi City Hall directly and asked about them, a staff of the School
Education Division kindly replied to me. The staff introduced me a YouTube
video and sent me a valuable material. I felt the love for the community and was filled with gratitude for the kindness. I would like to explain the history of the bell by using them as a reference below.
The temple bell was made in 1686 by a master craftsman of the time and
The temple bell was made in 1686 by a master craftsman of the time and
supplied to Choei Temple on Mt. Negishi within the city. On the side of the bell,
the name of the craftsman and the name of the parishioner who donated for its creation is engraved.
残念ながら、長栄寺は明治政府による神仏分離令、そこから派生した廃仏毀釈運動の影響を受け、廃寺となってしまった。ただ、この鐘は村民の集会場も兼ねていた行屋へ移され、時の鐘、火災を知らせる半鐘など、生活に根差した用途に使用されていたそうである。
Unfortunately, Choei Temple was abandoned due to the effects of "Ordinance
distinguishing Shinto and Buddhism" issued by the Meiji government and the
movement to abolish Buddhism which derived from the ordinance. However, the bell was moved to the hall for the training monks, which also served as a
meeting place for the villagers, and was used for various purposes, such as the bell to tell the time and the half-bell to notify of fire.
鐘は、第二次大戦によってさらに過酷な運命を辿ることになる。
1941年に発布された金属類回収令のため、1944年、軍用物資に改造するための原料として軍部によって供出させられた。溶解を何とか免れて、川崎の工場で終戦を迎えたこの鐘は、その後、戦利品として米軍によってアメリカ本土へと運ばれた。鐘を運んだ船の名が”ダルース号”だったことから、ミネソタ州のダルース市へと大陸横断鉄道で運ばれ、市庁舎に飾られることになる。
The bell suffered an even crueler fate by World War II.
Due to the Metal Collection Act issued in 1941, the bell was forced to donate by the military in 1944 as raw material for converting it into military supplies. The
The bell suffered an even crueler fate by World War II.
Due to the Metal Collection Act issued in 1941, the bell was forced to donate by the military in 1944 as raw material for converting it into military supplies. The
bell somehow escaped from being melted down and was still in a factory in
Kawasaki when the war ended. After that, it was transported to the US mainland by the US military as a booty. As the name of the ship that carried the bell was "Duluth", it was transported by transcontinental railroad to Duluth, Minnesota.
And it was displayed in the city hall.
1951年、当時の千葉大学学部長がアメリカ教育視察団としてここを訪れる。見知った鐘によく似ていることから、鐘がここにある経緯を尋ねたところ、実物だと判明した。鐘の存在が故郷のいすみ市（旧大原町）町長に伝えられると、町長は米大使館を通じてダルース市の市長に返還要望書を送った。市長は、単なる戦利品だと理解していた。だが鐘の持つ長い歴史と地域住民からの深い信仰を知ったことから、1954年に返還される運びとなったのである。
In 1951, the dean of Chiba University at the time visited the city hall as a
member of the United States Education Mission. As he thought that the bell
looked a lot like a familiar one, he asked why it was here. So, it turned out to be the real bell. When the news of the bell's existence reached the mayor of its
hometown, Isumi City (formerly Ohara Town), he sent a letter of request for its
return to the mayor of Duluth via the U.S. Embassy. The mayor had assumed it was merely a war booty. However, after he realized the long history which the
bell had and the deep faith by the local residents, it was returned in 1954.
返還には、米空軍に協力を仰いだ。まずは厚木基地へ空輸し、その後、横須賀港から輸送船にて大原漁港へと運ばれた。だが、ここで一大事が発生する。船が大き過ぎて、漁港に接岸できなかったのである。そこで鐘を小型船に載せ替え、ようやく故郷の地へと戻ってきたそうである。
The U.S. Air Force was asked to assist for its return. First, it was airlifted to
The U.S. Air Force was asked to assist for its return. First, it was airlifted to
Atsugi Air Base and then carried from Yokosuka Port to Ohara Fishing Port by a transport ship. But, something unexpected happened at the port. The ship was
too large to be able to come alongside the pier. So, the bell was transferred to a small vessel, and finally it was returned to its homeland.
待ち侘びた町民らは懐かしい梵鐘を盛大に迎え、式典までもが開催された。式の最中に、町長が”平和の鐘”と命名したのが所以である。安置場所に大原公園を選んだのは、日本の文化や歴史に造詣が深く、返還交渉に尽力してくれた米大使館の文化報道官であった。
As the townspeople had been waiting for the bell, they gave it a grand welcome and even held a ceremony. During the ceremony, the mayor of the town named it "Bell for Peace". The cultural spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy chose Ohara Park as the resting place because he had a deep knowledge of Japanese
As the townspeople had been waiting for the bell, they gave it a grand welcome and even held a ceremony. During the ceremony, the mayor of the town named it "Bell for Peace". The cultural spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy chose Ohara Park as the resting place because he had a deep knowledge of Japanese
culture and history and had worked hard to negotiate the return of the bell.
以来、いすみ市とダルース市は姉妹都市となっている。”平和の鐘”のレプリカがダルースに贈られており、２０周年の式典の際には世界の平和を願って、同時刻に鐘を突くイベントが開催されたそうである。こうした草の根交流は、今に至るまで粛々と続いている。
実は私は、ミネソタに２度、ホームステイをしたことがある。そこはかとなく、縁を感じた。
Since the return of the bell, Isumi and Duluth have been sister cities. A replica of "Bell for Peace" was presented to Duluth from Isumi, and at the 20th
実は私は、ミネソタに２度、ホームステイをしたことがある。そこはかとなく、縁を感じた。
Since the return of the bell, Isumi and Duluth have been sister cities. A replica of "Bell for Peace" was presented to Duluth from Isumi, and at the 20th
anniversary ceremony, an event was held in which people rang the bells at the
same time with wishing world peace at both sites. This grassroots exchange
has continued to this day solemnly.
Actually, I did homestay twice in Minnesota twice. I felt a strong connection a
Actually, I did homestay twice in Minnesota twice. I felt a strong connection a
little bit.
鐘楼から望める景色は広くて遠いので、自然と心も闊達になる。
ふと見ると、短い虹が現れていた。私のおみくじは”小吉”だったので、弟を祝福しているのであろう。
The view from the bell tower was wide and far-reaching, so my mind naturally
ふと見ると、短い虹が現れていた。私のおみくじは”小吉”だったので、弟を祝福しているのであろう。
became open-minded.
When I glanced at horizontal white clouds, I noticed a short rainbow. As my
When I glanced at horizontal white clouds, I noticed a short rainbow. As my
fortune slip was "Slight prosperity," it probably blessed for my younger brother.
