“O-shishigari” or deer hunting was held by the shogun or the military head for the military exercise and vermin extermination (pest control). In 1849, there were seventy thousand farmers convened in order to chase wild animals to the venue where the shogun existed. Fifty thousand soldiers participated from Edo. This was the biggest event in this region. “O-shishigari” was conducted in these ways.
At first, the roads and bridges from Edo to the venue in Chiba prefecture were repaired. There were uniforms called “Haori” which were delivered to organizers of the villages. The organizers wore uniforms when they participated in the “O-shishigari”. Farmers who were from age 15 to 60 were gathered. They had bamboo bars which were 3.6m long, ropes and foods. On the day before “O-shishigari”, farmers stood on 1.6 meter interval. They made a big circle, soon the circle got smaller and smaller throughout night. The interval between farmers became 50cm in the next morning. Deer were gathered into the hunting venue. Many galleries gathered and many stalls opened there.
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| Picture of participants at Matsudo museum |
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| Flags and outfits of farmers at Nagareyama city museum 村の旗と勢子装束 |
In Yoshino’s diary, the “O-shishigari” that was held on the 17th
March in 1849 was mentioned. At that time, 21 boats were connected and used
like a bridge over Edo river, so it was easier to cross the river for the
troops from Edo. Farmers from designated villages gathered on the 15th,
and they were deployed to their positions at dawn on the 16th. That
was a fine day and drinking water was prepared. On the dawn of the 17th, they
started to chase deer and other animals to the hunting venue with bamboo bars.
It was described that it looked like daytime because there were many bonfire
and lanterns. Later that day, it was a sunny day too. “O-shishigari” hunting
started after ringing the bell. The farmers were leading the animals to go to
the hunting area. The area was 66,000 square meters. The participants were as follows:
Cavalry soldiers and foot soldiers 27,000,
Reinforcements 23,000,Designated farmers 50,000,
Farmers includes spectators 20,000,
Galleries 20,000,
Merchants 10,000,
Total 150,000 people
Farmers who participated in the event were given those animals.
At 4pm, they stopped hunting. Two hundred barrels of sake were presented to the organizers from villages, and 3 pieces of silver coins were given to the 7 oldest people. It was a big attraction for people.
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| Picture of “O-shishigari” |
The shogun's site、将軍お立場
小金原牧狩立場之図（部分） https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1302624?tocOpened=1
O-shishigari hunting、小金原牧狩ノ図（部分）
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1302625?tocOpened=1
Return to the Edo castle、小金原牧狩引揚ノ図（部分）
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1302627?tocOpened=1
まず、お鹿狩りの前年には、江戸と松戸間の道や橋の整備を行い、幕府からは村の世話役にユニフォームと言える羽織が支給する。千葉県北西部を中心に勢子が集められ、1795年（寛政7年）のお鹿狩りでは大多喜、銚子、結城から鹿などの追い込みを始めたとある。追い込みの勢子は、15~60歳の農民で、２間（3.6m）の竹と3尺の縄と食糧を持って、お鹿狩りの前日に1.6ｍ間隔で並び輪を作り（17kmになるはず）、夜通し輪を詰めていって50cm間隔にして鹿など狩場に追い込んでいく（1726年のお鹿狩り）。狩場には弁当を持った見物の者も多数集い、店も出る。
旗本の騎馬勢子や歩行勢子は、お鹿狩り前日に江戸を出発して松戸市金が作で野営する。小鍋や米、味噌、焼き米や酒を持参している。将軍は、お鹿狩り当日の深夜に江戸城を出て、10時頃にお狩場に着く。狩りを見て、14時ごろに狩場を発ち、22時ごろに江戸城に戻る。お狩場では、勢子や拝見の衆も尊顔を仰ぐことができたとある。
吉野日記に記されている1849年（嘉永2年）3月17日のお鹿狩りでは、松戸と金町の間をつなぐ船橋（舟２１艘で江戸川を渡す橋とする）を作り、3月15日には村から駆り出された人足が集まる。16日、暁には人足は持ち場に着く。この日は快晴であり、飲み水も用意されている。いよいよ、17日、夜番が竹を持って矢来を作り鹿などを追い込んでいく。焚火、提灯が沢山出ており、日中の如し、と書き残されている。その日も快晴であった。明け六つ（6am）の鐘を合図に、二万坪の狩場に鹿などを追い込んでいく。参加者は、
騎馬、歩行 27,000人
同勢、諸家 23,000人
七手の勢子（正式に召集された勢子） 50,000人
加勢子（見物人も多数と言われる） 20,000人
拝見の輩 20,000人
商人体の者（店も多数出ていたようだ） 10,000人
合計15万人とある。
将軍は、高台で狩りの様子を見ている。大筒2発が打たれ、昼食となる。
獲物は人足が持ち帰り、七つ（4pm）ごろ殺生止めとなる。世話役にはお酒（お立場北口に200樽）が振る舞われ、長寿の者7人には白銀三枚が渡されたとある。（参考資料：松戸市史）
この地方の一大イベントである。
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Shogun and Shogunate 将軍と幕府 (Glossary)
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Yoshino’s daily life 02, Life and fun of Yoshino family 吉野家の暮らしと楽しみ
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