出雲大社奉納
岩鞍座上蛇図縁起

出雲国に古くから伝わる祭に、神在祭がある。
出雲の浦に海神の使いの龍蛇が上るが、その姿は背黒腹黄、尾に神紋の扇を負うとされている。龍蛇はトグロを巻き、火を吐くような大口を開けて、穢れを追い払う。
十月、亥月は、大和名で｢神無月｣という。亡くなられた母神の伊邪那美神の追慕の為、八百万の御子神々が、根の堅州国の出雲に集まられて、日本国中で一時、神不在となるので、｢神無月｣と呼ばれている。出雲では日本中の八百万の神々が参集するので｢神在祭｣となる。
出雲の海原へ穢れを流し清め、神送りをする事で、凶事、災難が取り去られる。
八百万の全ての神々が不在となり、日本国中、一時的に空となる事で穢れが禊払われ清められて、その結果、新しい命が更新される。
岩鞍は「クラ」で、暗い穴、物を収める所、そして母の胎内を意味する。禊をして、清められた新しい命として生まれ変わるのには、一時的に母の胎内を通り、身を削ぎ落とさなければならない。「クラ」を通過する事で、穢れを脱ぎ捨てて身を清め、災難や凶事を払う。
岩鞍座上蛇図は、禊の場所のクラで猛々しい龍蛇神が邪気を払うものである。
出雲の神様の許にお納め致します
平成十四年十月

Iwakurazajo-hebi Zu engi
(dedicated to Izumo Taisha Shrine)

"Jintai-sai" is a festival that has been held in the land of Izumo since ancient times.
The dragon-snake that is the messenger of the sea-god emerges in Izumo Bay. With black back and yellow belly, it is believed to have the divine-print fan on its tail. The snake is coiled and has its jaws wide open as if blowing fire, symbolizing that it drives away impurities.
The month of October is called "Kanna-zuki" in traditional Japanese. It is a time when the myriad deities of the country gather in the homeland to pay respects to their mother Izanami who had passed away. The month got its name because all of the deities in the country leave their homes from that special time of the year and the country becomes "god-less." On the other hand, Izumo plays host to all of the gods and celebrate the "presence of the deities," therefore, "Jintai-sai."
All evil and misfortune are driven away when impurities are washed away into the waters of Izumo, the land sanctified and the gods are sent off to their homes.
When the deities become absent, the country becomes vacant temporarily, thus removing all impurities and hence bringing forth new life.
"Iwakura" denotes a dark hole that is storage place and is also the symbol of the womb. Rebirth through cleansing and sanctification is made possible with temporary return to the womb and shedding off. By passing through the "kura" purity is restored and all evil washed away.
Iwakurazajo-hebi-zu shows the ferocious dragon-snake god driving off evil in the "kura," the place of sanctification. It has been dedicated to the gods of Izumo. (October 2002)