Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

Joetsu in central Japan (Niigata pref.) was the provincial capital in the ancient era. In medieval era (especially in Sengoku period: domestic wartime), a warlord built a large castle (Kasugayama-jo). Thereafter, Takada Castle was built in the city center . Although the museum shows us the local history as the provincial capital, people’s life is also exhibited a lot. I was impressed by the residents’ power; they vitalized the city by leveraging its unique urban characteristics . Photography of exhibition rooms is prohibited; I took photos and uploaded them under the approval of the office. 新潟県上越市は、国府が置かれた越後国の中心地 。戦国時代は長尾氏が春日山城を築き、徳川幕府は高田城を築きました。「越後の都」としての歴史を軸にしていますが、人々の暮らしも紹介されています。 政治の中心地であることを活用し、町を活性化させてきた （例えば、観桜会）人々に感心しました。 ところで、 館内は撮影禁止 。博物館の許可を得て撮影し、アップロードしました。 （展示品は入れ替えがあります。写真は 2025 年７月の展示品です。）     Exhibition room of the medieval era . Letters of Uesugi Kenshin (a gifted warlord who stationed at Kasugaya Castle) and so on explained the era in detail. If you li...

Hida district is on the Hokkoku- kaidou (highway) which links mountainous area (Nagano pref.) and seaside one (Niigata pref.) . It is in a boundary zone between mountainous area and plain. 妙高市・斐太地区は、妙高山麓を流れる関川が山地から平地にでた場所にあり 、水田が広がる地域です。信越を結ぶ北国街道が通る地区でもあります。 Both the cattle and rice bales in the entrance hall are made by rice straw. There are rich rice fields there (The museum is at the first floor in the building at lower left). ホールには 牛と米俵の藁細工 があります。米どころですね。左下が資料館がある建物。 The exhibition starts with the history section. 展示室は歴史からスタート。 Although the history is not the theme of this blog, I would like to highlight the exhibits about Uesugi Kagetora. He was expected to succeed to  the powerful warlord  Uesugi Kenshin. Unfortunately, he was defeated at the castle near the museum. The carbonized rice at lower right is assumed to a onigiri (rice ball); it was found at the castle site. There is a history park “Hida-rekishi-no-sato” which has the castle site and the ancient ruins. ...

Mt. Myokou (2454m) in central Japan (Niigata pref.) has been worshipped since the ancient era . Sekiyama Shrine and Houzouin Temple were the center of the worship ; we can know the prosperity in the old days. Those locate by Hokkoku- kaidou (highway). The article was written based on guide boards at the site. Traces of the syncretism and subsequent separation of Shinto and Buddhism can be seen. 妙高山（ 2454m 、新潟県）は古代から信仰を集めてきました 。北国街道沿いの 関山神社と別当の宝蔵院は妙高山信仰の拠点 。江戸時代には大いに栄えました（本記事は、妙高市教育委員会の案内板をもとに作成しています）。神仏習合と神仏分離の跡が見えます。     Sekiyama Shrine 、関山神社 Mt. Myokou has been considered as the deity dwelling mountain . The shrine is dedicated to the deity. 妙高山を神体山としてまつる神社（里宮） とされています。 The main building above was rebuilt in 1818 . 1818 年に再建された社殿 。本殿・幣殿・拝殿が一体化し、最奥部に宮殿があります。 View of Mt. Myokou . I visited several times, but I unfortunately have not seen the summit (photo at lower rignt. It is a panel of “Myoko-Kogen Visitor Center” in 2025). The shape of the mountain resembles ...

Sekigawa checkpoint was on Hokkoku- kaidou (highway) which linked central Japan and the Japan Sea coast in the  Edo period  (1603 ～ 1868). The checkpoint was rebuilt, and the museum next to it exhibits about “ kaidou ” (old highway). The checkpoint is located at the border of Nagano pref. and Niigata pref. The Sikigawa (river) is in front of the checkpoint site. Let’s cross the bridge! 中山道の信濃追分（軽井沢町）を起点とし、北陸へ続く北国街道の信越国境に置かれたのが関川関所です。関所が復元され、街道に関する資料が隣接する道の歴史館に展示されています。信濃側からは関川を渡って関所に向かいます。   There is a path beside the bridge (upper right). Interestingly enough, it was a bypass to avoid the checkpoint . Women mainly used it, because they were checked thoroughly. It was called “Dog Path”. 橋の先には、 関所を迂回できる「犬くぐり道」 が整備されています。関所の手続きが煩雑な女性たちが使うことが多かったようです。   After crossing the bridge, the kaidou goes into the checkpoint. 橋を渡って、街道は関所に入ります。 The building was rebuilt at the checkpoint site. It was an important one, because not only a daimyo lord who possessed an area at...