今年傘寿の生意気ですみませんね。今日は英語サークルの日なんでちょっと勉強しました。魔よけの申(猿)飾りのニュースです。後の方に日本語解説もあります。 The Japan Times 2016 January 14 Nara district’s monkey charms win over locals and visitors NARA – In an old area of Naramachi, in Nara Prefecture, charms called migawari-saru (scapegoat monkey) are seen hung under the eaves of old houses and shops. The red charm, shaped like a monkey but without ears or a tail, is believed to ward off misfortunes. It is also known as kukuri-saru (tied-up monkey) because of its posture. With 2016 being the year of the monkey, according to the 12-sign Chinese zodiac, the charms are becoming popular among tourists who visit the city. The custom of hanging migawari-saru under eaves dates back to the early Edo Period (1603-1868), when the animal was believed to be the messenger of a deity. Usually, family members all have the same number of monkey charms, with wishes written on the back. At the Naramachi Museum in Nara, some 50 hand-stitched charms are a made a day. Ranging in length from 2 cm to 15 cm, there are six different types. The museum has also prepared translations in English and Chinese of typical wishes written on the charms, such as “sound health” and “prosperity at work.” “We put our heart into each of them,” said Tetsuro Minami, 53, the director of the museum. “In one year from now, I hope to hear a lot of people say, ‘We have been able to get through the year thanks to (the charm),’ ” he said. Noriko Tsuda, 66, who along with three of her friends visited the museum from Sakai in neighboring Osaka Prefecture, said she has bought one every year for the past 10 years. “I hope I will be able to get through (this year) safely and peacefully, and that the four of us will be able to come back here again,” she said. Similar customs of hanging monkey charms have continued in a district of Obama, Fukui Prefecture, which has many old houses, as well as at Yasaka Koshindo, a temple in Kyoto. 奈良県 奈良町の家の軒先に赤いぬいぐるみがぶら下がっている。これは、「庚申（こうしん）さん」のお使いの申をかたどったお守りで、魔除けを意味し、家の中に災難が入ってこないように吊るしている。災いを代わりに受けてくださることから「身代り申」とよばれている。 また、背中に願い事を書いてつるす「願い申」ともいう。 「庚申さん」とよばれる青面（しょうめん）金剛像は、西新屋町の当館にまつられている。中国の道教の教えを説く庚申信仰は、江戸時代に民間信仰として庶民にひろがった。 言い伝えによると、人の体の中に三尸（さんし）の虫がいて、庚申の日の夜に人が寝ているあいだに体から抜けだし、天帝にその人の悪事を告げにいくという。 その報告により寿命が決まるというので、人々は六十日に一度回ってくる庚申の日は、寝ずに「庚申さん」を供養したという。 徹夜の習わしはなくなったが、身代り申をつるし、庚申さんをまつる信仰は、今もこの町に息づいている。

今年傘寿の生意気ですみませんね。今日は英語サークルの日なんでちょっと勉強しました。魔よけの申(猿)飾りのニュースです。後の方に日本語解説もあります。
The Japan Times 2016 January 14
Nara district’s monkey charms win over locals and visitors
NARA – In an old area of Naramachi, in Nara Prefecture, charms called migawari-saru (scapegoat monkey) are seen hung under the eaves of old houses and shops.
The red charm, shaped like a monkey but without ears or a tail, is believed to ward off misfortunes. It is also known as kukuri-saru (tied-up monkey) because of its posture.
With 2016 being the year of the monkey, according to the 12-sign Chinese zodiac, the charms are becoming popular among tourists who visit the city.
The custom of hanging migawari-saru under eaves dates back to the early Edo Period (1603-1868), when the animal was believed to be the messenger of a deity. Usually, family members all have the same number of monkey charms, with wishes written on the back.
At the Naramachi Museum in Nara, some 50 hand-stitched charms are a made a day. Ranging in length from 2 cm to 15 cm, there are six different types.
The museum has also prepared translations in English and Chinese of typical wishes written on the charms, such as “sound health” and “prosperity at work.”
“We put our heart into each of them,” said Tetsuro Minami, 53, the director of the museum.
“In one year from now, I hope to hear a lot of people say, ‘We have been able to get through the year thanks to (the charm),’ ” he said.
Noriko Tsuda, 66, who along with three of her friends visited the museum from Sakai in neighboring Osaka Prefecture, said she has bought one every year for the past 10 years.
“I hope I will be able to get through (this year) safely and peacefully, and that the four of us will be able to come back here again,” she said.
Similar customs of hanging monkey charms have continued in a district of Obama, Fukui Prefecture, which has many old houses, as well as at Yasaka Koshindo, a temple in Kyoto.

奈良県 奈良町の家の軒先に赤いぬいぐるみがぶら下がっている。これは、「庚申（こうしん）さん」のお使いの申をかたどったお守りで、魔除けを意味し、家の中に災難が入ってこないように吊るしている。災いを代わりに受けてくださることから「身代り申」とよばれている。 また、背中に願い事を書いてつるす「願い申」ともいう。
「庚申さん」とよばれる青面（しょうめん）金剛像は、西新屋町の当館にまつられている。中国の道教の教えを説く庚申信仰は、江戸時代に民間信仰として庶民にひろがった。 言い伝えによると、人の体の中に三尸（さんし）の虫がいて、庚申の日の夜に人が寝ているあいだに体から抜けだし、天帝にその人の悪事を告げにいくという。 その報告により寿命が決まるというので、人々は六十日に一度回ってくる庚申の日は、寝ずに「庚申さん」を供養したという。
徹夜の習わしはなくなったが、身代り申をつるし、庚申さんをまつる信仰は、今もこの町に息づいている。