Translated from the original article at: http://www.ryoutan.co.jp/news/2011/12/26/004570.html
Caption: A dragon vigorously climbing towards the heavens, drawn on a jumbo Ema.
On the 25th, at the Goryo Temple of Nakano, Fukuchiyama City, a jumbo-sized Ema depicting the dragon of next year's Chinese zodiac was placed on the front of the worshipping hall. 38 workers of the temple's ceremony association also placed banners and lanterns, in preparation for the New Year.
The size of the Ema is 97 inches high and 125 inches wide. It was drawn with acrylic paint by shrine maiden Arata Kumiyo. Beginning from the year of the horse (2002), 11 (Ema) have now been completed.
A vivid scene was drawn, the dragon piercing the clouds and ascending towards heaven. One week from entering this month, the finishing touches were applied. "For the facial features of the dragon, I kept switching between it looking scary or cute before I was finished drawing," explained Arata.
On the upper right of the ema, Chief Priest Adachi Tsuneaki wrote, with a brush in red ink, the characters for "Rebirth". He explained: "Just as the Goryo Temple is grieving for the townspeople of the disaster, we've (in the past) been grateful for the excellent governing of Akechi Mitsuhide. The temple wishes that Fukuchiyama moves along with peace of mind and has created this request. The characters for "Rebirth" are for the reconstruction from the great disaster of Eastern Japan, written with prayer that they enter a year of restoration.
Original Text:
大震災からの復興願いジャンボ絵馬 御霊神社で迎春準備
写真＝天に昇る勢いのある龍が描かれたジャンボ絵馬
福知山市中ノの御霊神社で２５日、拝殿正面に来年の干支・辰にちなんで龍を描いたジャンボ絵馬が掲げられた。神社奉賛会の役員ら３８人がのぼりや提灯なども取り付け、迎春準備を整えた。
絵馬の大きさは縦９７センチ、横１２５センチ。巫女の荒田久美代さんが、アクリル絵の具で描いた。午年から始め、今回で１１枚目となる。
龍が雲間を抜け、天に昇る様子を鮮やかに描いている。今月に入ってから約１週間かけて仕上げた。荒田さんは「龍の顔つきが怖かったり、可愛かったりしないように描きました」と話す。
絵馬の右上には足立常秋宮司の筆で「再生」の文字が朱色で書き込まれている。足立宮司は「御霊神社は災害に苦しむ町人が明智光秀公の善政に感謝し、安心して暮らせる福知山であってほしいと願い造られた神社です。再生の文字は東日本大震災からの復旧、復興の年になるよう祈願して書きました」と話している。
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