Do the Ordinary Extraordinarily

We praise the extraordinary; what’s beyond our mundane everyday. But what we tend to overlook is somewhere in between. Do we all have to aim for a big, grand vision?

On the wall of my living room hangs “Five Reflections for Weavers” calligraphed by my grandfather, Rikizo Munehiro. He received the honour of being “the holder of Intangible Important Cultural Property (Living National Treasure)” in the 80s for his ikat and stripe pattern weaving technique with tsumugi-pongee silk. 

Rikizo used to calligraph and hand out these five reflections for his trainees when they graduated from his workshop, much like a scroll of certificates at a graduation ceremony. I have seen a few of these from his former apprentices, and each one is slightly different. He must have made adjustments according to their personality.

The holder of Intangible Important Cultural Property – many recognise and remember him for the title he received. However, to me, that is a mere byproduct of what he poured his passion towards… which was the development of each individual.

In his early twenties, he led a commune of youth with the aim of personal development through agriculture. He saw that in order for a person to grow intellectually, emotionally, and physically, sitting in front of a desk was not enough. Studying, cleaning, and farming were all equally important practices and parts of life. Based on that belief, he tried to cultivate a holistic environment.

When World War II ended, he quickly had to find a place for his peers coming back from Manchuria, China. Food to be shared, houses to sleep in, space to build the houses and grow crops on… all had to be realised quickly. He was leading a community to cultivate the land once again. 

Weaving was one of many means he tried to support the village financially. Making pomade from caster oil was another: I heard it was successful at one point. 

In the end, he decided to focus on weaving for three reasons 

• it’s timeless
• it will never be overproduced
• it will never create a reason to fight over

It didn’t have to be weaving, but it ended up being so. My guess is that something about weaving resonated with his lifetime passion. 

Once the direction was set, his innate curiosity laser-focused on bettering techniques through thousands of trials and errors, which later led to the title he received. 

In that pursuit of ideal weaving, his intention remained the same. 

“There is nothing more rewarding than to see my students’ technical advancement as well as spiritual growth,” he said. His apprentices lived together for a minimum of three years: from cooking and sharing meals to cleaning and farming – all were part of their daily work, equally as important as weaving.

Out of the five reflections, my favourite is the second one, “Do the ordinary extraordinarily.” He went far by doing the ordinary extraordinarily. From waking up early in the morning, cleaning the space, and cultivating the land, to watching the sun goes down.

I offer incense, water and prayer to his alter every morning. He reminds me how to face the day.

非凡な才能や、超人的な記録でないとなかなか大衆メディアなどで取りざたされることは無いので、ついつい目線はそういった輝かしい記録や実績ばかりを追いがちですが、その間にあるものは見落とされがちだと思うのです。
誰の目にもわかりやすいすごいことは、もちろんすごいのだけれど、それを皆が追いかけないと行けないのかな？

リビングルームに掛けてある祖父の書「織五省」は、祖父が卒業する研究生に手渡していた織りに向かう心構えのようなもの。

一、糸を経に、心を緯に
一、平凡を非凡に努めん
一、正された仕事を美が追いかけてくる
一、一すじの糸のいのちを大切に
一、織は人なり 人は心なり

研究生によって、贈られた言葉には少しずつ違いがあって、それはきっと人柄を反映してのことなのでしょう。

日々自然と向き合い、畑を耕す生活の中から人間が育まれると考えた祖父は、若者の開拓団「凌霜塾」でその理想を実践します。戦争を挟んで、満州から引き揚げてきた村の仲間と共に暮らしの基盤となる仕事として染織を選んだものの、その背景に流れている思想は一貫して同じでした。

・時代に左右されないもの
・生産過多にならないもの
・争いの原因にならないもの
との理由から織物を選んだと言います。

1947年、33歳でした。ゼロの知識と技術からの挑戦で1982年に重要無形文化財「紬縞織・絣織」保持者の指定を受けるまでの道のりは想像を絶しますが、孫の私が祖父の歩いた道をたどった時に感銘を受けるのは、一貫した「育成」への取り組みです。

「心さえきちんと養っておけば、技術は後からついて来る」
「日夜一緒に研鑽に励んでいる研究生が心、技とも目覚ましい進境を見せてくれることは、涙がでるほどうれしい。あらゆる苦労を忘れさせてくれる」

織五省の中で私のお気に入りは、「平凡を非凡に努めん」です。朝日と共に起きて、掃除整頓をして、畑で体を動かして、機に向かう。そんな平凡の繰り返しを夢中でできたことが、祖父の非凡な才能だったと思うのです。

毎朝お線香と若水をお供えしては、今日の仕事への向き合い方を教えられます。