2026 07 26 土用ゆり

土用ゆり ― 鹿子百合（カノコユリ）　学名 Lilium speciosum 

　日本や中国を原産とするユリで、日本では主に九州南部や四国などに自生しています。19世紀には、長崎に滞在したシーボルトによってヨーロッパにも紹介され、その美しい姿は海を越えて多くの人々を魅了したそうです。日本を代表する美しいユリのひとつです。

　くるりと外側へ反り返るように開き、白や淡い桃色の花びらには、濃い紅色の斑点が散りばめられ、その模様が鹿の子どもの背中にある斑点模様に似ているから、「鹿子百合」と名付けられていますが、一年の中で、もっとも暑さの厳しい「夏の土用」の頃に咲くことから

「土用ユリ」とも呼ばれています。

さて、「土用」と聞くと、思い浮かべるのは、やはり「土用の丑の日」でしょうか。

でも「土用」って何？

古代中国の「五行思想」では、自然界を「木・火・土・金・水」の五つの要素で考えました。

春は「木」、夏は「火」、秋は「金」、冬は「水」。

そして、季節と季節の間には「土」の期間が置かれ、それぞれの季節の終わりに訪れる約18日間が「土の気が働く時期」という意味で「土用」となったそうです。

季節が次の季節へと移り変わる、その境目の時間。

昔の日本では、一年を春・夏・秋・冬の四つの季節に分け、それぞれの季節の終わりに「土用」があると考えていました。

　そんな季節の変わり目を元気に過ごすために、食べ物にまつわるさまざまな知恵、たとえば、夏の土用は「う」のつく食べ物をいただく習慣があります。

暑さの厳しい夏を乗り切るために、

栄養のあるものを食べ、体をいたわろうとしたのでしょう。

同じように

春の土用には「い」のつくもの、

秋の土用には「た」のつくもの、

冬の土用には「ひ」のつくものを食べる、

という風習も伝えられています。

こうした風習には地域や時代による違いもありますが、

そこには共通して、

「季節の変わり目を健やかに過ごしたい」という

昔の人々の願いが込められているように思います。

その季節に実るものをいただき、旬のものを味わい、暑さや寒さに備えて体を整える。

自然の恵みをいただきながら、季節の移ろいとともに暮らしてきた、日本人の知恵なのですね。

暑さが一番厳しい今、教会に咲く「土用ゆり」。

季節が静かに次の時へと向かうように、

私たちの歩みもまた、一日一日、新しい時へと導かれていることを知ります。

昔の人々が、食べ物を通して季節の変化を受け止め、自分の体を大切にしてきたように、

教会につながる私たちは、主の声に耳を澄ませながら、恵みをいただいて暮らしていきたいものです。

そして、熊本では地震がありました。

突然の災害に遭い、今なお困難の中にある方々に、神様の癒しと慰めがありますように。

必要な助けが一人ひとりのもとに届きますように。

不安の中にいる方々の心に、平安がありますように。

一日も早く穏やかな日常を取り戻すことができますように。

心からお祈りいたします。

The Doyō Lily — Kanoko Lily (Lilium speciosum)

The Kanoko Lily, Lilium speciosum, is native to Japan and China. In Japan, it grows naturally mainly in southern Kyushu and Shikoku. In the 19th century, it was introduced to Europe by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who had stayed in Nagasaki. Its beautiful appearance crossed the seas and captivated many people around the world. It is considered one of Japan's most beautiful lilies.

The flowers open with their petals gracefully curling backward. The white to pale pink petals are sprinkled with deep crimson spots, resembling the markings on the back of a fawn. This is how the flower came to be called the “Kanoko鹿子 Lily,” 

Because it blooms around the time of the summer Doyō, the hottest period of the year, it is also sometimes called the “Doyō Lily.”

So, when you hear the word Doyō, what comes to mind?

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the famous Doyō no Ushi no Hi, （ the “Day of the Ox”） during the summer Doyō, when people traditionally eat eel(unagi）.

But what exactly is Doyō?

In the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements, the natural world was understood through five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.

Spring was associated with wood,

summer with fire,

autumn with metal,

and winter with water.

The element of earth(土） was placed between the seasons. The approximately 18 days at the end of each season came to be known as Doyō土用, a period when the energy or influence of the earth was believed to be particularly active.

In other words, Doyō is a time of transition, a bridge from one season to the next.

In traditional Japan, people understood the year as four distinct seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and believed that each season ended with a period of Doyō.

People also developed various food traditions to help them stay healthy during these seasonal transitions.

For example, during the summer Doyō, people traditionally eat foods beginning with the Japanese sound “u,” such as eel (unagi), udon noodles, pickled plums (umeboshi), and gourds such as cucumber and watermelon (uri).

Perhaps these customs reflected the wisdom of our ancestors, who sought to care for their bodies and stay strong through the intense heat of summer by eating nourishing foods.

Similarly, there are traditions of eating foods beginning with “i” during the spring Doyō, “ta” during the autumn Doyō, and “hi” during the winter Doyō.

Although these customs vary according to region and time period, they all seem to share a common wish:

to stay healthy and well during the changing seasons.

Eating what nature provides in each season,

enjoying foods at their freshest,

and preparing our bodies for the coming heat or cold—

this is part of the wisdom of the Japanese people, who have long lived in harmony with the changing seasons while receiving the blessings of nature.

Now, in the midst of the most intense summer heat, the “Doyō Lily” blooms here at our church.

Just as the seasons quietly move toward what comes next,

we, too, are being led day by day into new seasons of our lives.

Just as people in the past cared for their bodies and embraced the changing seasons through the food they received from nature, may we who are connected to this church also listen closely to the voice of the Lord and gratefully receive His blessings as we journey through each day.

And now, there has been an earthquake in Kumamoto.

We pray from our hearts that God may bring healing and comfort to all those who have suddenly found themselves facing hardship because of this disaster.

May the help that each person needs reach them.

May those who are living with fear and uncertainty find peace in their hearts.

And may they be able to return to peaceful, ordinary lives as soon as possible.

Our heartfelt prayers are with them all.