Tsunemasa Watarai - When is it good?

A priest at Toyouke Daijingu (Ise Jingu Geku) in the late Kamakura period, and a scholar of Watarai (Ise) Shinto. The Higaki clan. His childhood name was Tsuneyoshi, later changed to Tsunemasa. He was born in the first year of Bun'ei as the second son of the first priest, Sadanao. He was appointed priest in 1292 (Shoo 5) and served Ise Jingu for 48 years, becoming known to the world as Higaki Daichojin or Kaburaya Higaki. He studied Watarai Shinto in depth and had a friendship with the chief priest of Mount Hiei, Jihen. Together they compiled the 20 volumes of the "Kujihongigengi" (Chronicles of Ancient Matters) and presented it to Emperor Godaigo. He also presented the "Daijingu Ryogu no Goji" (A Matter of the Two Grand Shrines of Ise) to Empress Renshi (Ano Renshi). In March 1330 (Gentoku 2), he performed a prayer for the pursuit of Hojo Takatoki at the imperial decree, and was awarded the rank of Junior Third Rank as a reward, but was later summoned to Kamakura on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the shogunate. In addition to those mentioned above, he wrote many works, including "Kojisatabumi", "Gentokuchushin Watarai Keizu", and "Bunpo Fukukaryo". He passed away on July 27, 4th year of Engen.

[Masayuki Nakanishi, October 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉末期の豊受(とようけ)大神宮（伊勢(いせ)神宮外宮(げくう)）の禰宜(ねぎ)、度会（伊勢）神道(しんとう)の学者。檜垣(ひがき)氏。幼名は常良(つねよし)、のちに常昌と改める。文永(ぶんえい)元年に一(いちの)禰宜貞尚(さだなお)の次子として出生。1292年（正応5）に禰宜に補せられ、伊勢神宮に奉仕すること48年間に及び、世に檜垣大長官または鏑矢(かぶらや)檜垣とたたえられた。度会神道を深く研究し、比叡山(ひえいざん)の大僧正慈遍(じへん)と親交があり、ともに『旧事本紀玄義(くじほんぎげんぎ)』20巻を編纂(へんさん)して後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇に奏覧、また中宮廉子(れんし)（阿野廉子）にも『大神宮両宮之御事』を献上した。1330年（元徳2）3月、勅を奉じて北条高時(ほうじょうたかとき)追討の祈祷(きとう)を行い、その賞として従三位(じゅさんみ)に叙せられたが、のちに討幕の嫌疑から鎌倉に召喚されたこともある。著述には既述のほか、『皇字沙汰文(こうじさたぶみ)』『元徳注進(げんとくちゅうしん)度会系図』『文保(ぶんぽう)服仮令』など多い。延元(えんげん)4年7月27日没。

［中西正幸　2017年10月19日］

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