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Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 2（千葉県流山の名主日記）

The time in which the village head lived、兵右衛門が生きた時代


The era of Edo culture's flourishing、化政文化が隆盛を極めた時代

The year 1802, when the diary began, was a time when Western ships began appearing along the Japanese coast. On the other hand, Edo culture was at its peak.

The publication of Jippensha Ikku's travel novel (Tokaidochu Hizakurige) ignited the travel boom, and Katsushika Hokusai, famous for his wave printing, established his artistic style.


A junior high school history textbook states the following:
Entertainments for ordinary people also flourished. Kabuki, sumo wrestling, and rakugo (comic storytelling) became popular; cherry blossom viewing and fireworks shows were enjoyed according to the season. Kabuki and sumo were also enjoyed in provinces. Trips to shrines and temples also became common, which were combined with sightseeing and therapeutic stays at hot springs.

It's a good era.

However, there was also famine while the diary was written from 1802 to 1864. There was also pandemic caused by cholera brought in by foreigners. It wasn't all good.

 

Hyoemon and his family lived through such times with decent efforts.

 

However, it was a time without war. Despite the hardships, I feel like they lived peaceful and happy days compared to our lives today. Commuting distances were short, the amount of information was limited, and there was little change. Life was relaxed.


Printing of Katsushika Hokusai、神奈川沖浪裏
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1687426/1/6

日記が始まる1802年は、欧米の船が日本沿岸に現れ始めた時期であり、江戸の文化が隆盛を極める時期だ。

旅行ブームの火が付け役となった十返舎一九の『東海道中膝栗毛』が出版され、葛飾北斎が画風を確立していった。


中学生の歴史の教科書には、次のように書かれている。
庶民の娯楽も発展を見せました。歌舞伎や大相撲、落語などが人気を集め、季節に応じて花見や花火も楽しまれました。歌舞伎や相撲は地方でも楽しまれました。温泉での療養や観光を兼ねた、寺社参詣の旅行も行われるようになりました。

（島津弘、高橋慎一朗ほか[2025]『新編 新しい社会 歴史』東京書籍）

いい時代だ。

 

しかし、日記が書かれた1864年までの間には、飢饉もあった。外国人が持ち込んだコレラによるパンデミックもあった。よいことばかりではない。

そんな時代を兵右衛門たちは懸命に生きた。

 

とはいえ、戦さがない時代。苦労はあっても、今の我々の暮らしぶりと比べると、穏やかで幸せな日々を過ごしていたと感じられる。通勤距離は短く、情報の量は少なく、変化も少ない。ゆったりしていたのである。



 

The daily happiness and fulfillment during inconvenient life revealed by the diary、日記から感じられる日々の幸せと、不便な暮らしの中の充足感

 This diary is not the one of a historical hero, it is the one of a famer who were also a village head. So, it helps us see the worth of simple pleasures in everyday life, the value of spending time with family, and the importance of gratitude towards nature. Many people knew the values back then.

 

Their occupation was agriculture. They paid taxes with the rice they farmed, and also ate their crops including vegetables.

 

Every family member worked according to their own strength. Children's job wasn't going to school, but household chores like fetching water and babysitting. The elderly' job wasn't watching television, but straw work (making straw sandals, etc.), cooking and so on.

 

Unfortunately, they were vulnerable to disasters. They prayed to avoid famine and disease, and never forgot to thank for the harvest.

 

They also had leisure time: village gatherings, picnics, poetry writing, trips and etc. Although not mentioned in the diary, they must have also enjoyed sexual pleasures.

 

Again, though not mentioned in the diary, they must have felt the five senses more intensely than we do.

 

Their hearing did not perceived engine noise, it did only the sounds of wind, water, and living creatures. Their smells were also solely those of nature. The only man-made structures they saw were low-rise wooden buildings; temples and castles are prominent, but they were not so large that they obscured a view of mountains. They could only taste natural ingredients. Everything they touch must have had the roughness of nature.

 

Their lives are far less convenient than ours. Far more inconvenient.

 

However, his diary teaches us that life can be enjoyed even without the things and services that we find convenient.

 

Based on his diary, and adding my knowledge abut the era, I would like to follow their daily lives.

 

Let's take a look.

 

Women working in the rice fields of Japan 1905
https://www.loc.gov/item/2020634462/

 

この日記は、秀吉のような人の立身出世の記録ではないし、龍馬のような人の大活躍を記したものでもない。名主として、ふつうにまじめに生きた農民の話だ。

だからこそ、日々の暮らしの中で幸せを感じるありがたさ、家族と過ごすありがたさ、自然に感謝する大切さを感じさせてくれる。それらは、当時、多くの人びとが感じていた幸せだ。

 

彼ら彼女らの職業は農業であり、家族みんなで育てた作物を税として納め、また、食べて生きている。

みんながそれぞれの体力に応じて働いた。子どもの仕事は学校へ行くことではなく、水汲みや子守などの家事だった。老人の仕事はテレビをみることではなく、藁仕事（草鞋作りなど）や炊事などであった。

彼ら彼女らは災害に弱い。飢饉や疫病に遭わないように祈り、収穫に感謝することを忘れなかった。

 

余暇もある。村でのパーティー、ピクニックや詩歌づくり、旅。日記には書かれていないが、性愛の楽しみもあったはずだ。

 

これもまた日記には書かれていないが、「五感の歓び」を我々よりも強く感じられたはずだ。

 

聴覚がとらえるのは、エンジン音ではなく風や水や生き物の音だけ。匂いも自然が発する匂いだけ。見える人工物は木造の低層建築。お寺やお城が目立つが、山が見えなくなるほどは大きくない。味わえるのは天然食材。触れるものには自然のざらつきがあったはず。

 

彼ら彼女らの生活は我々より不便だ。はるかに不便だ。

しかし、我々が便利だと感じているモノやサービスがなくても、人生は楽しめるということを彼の日記は教えてくれる。

 

日記をベースに、私が知る時代背景も加えながら、彼ら彼女らの日々をおっていきたい。

さあ、見ていこう。

 

 

Previous post  (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 1（千葉県流山の名主日記):  The location in which the village head lived、兵右衛門が生きた流山

Next post (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 3（千葉県流山の名主日記）: How to spend New Year (Jan. and the first half of Feb., 1802)、正月の過ごし方（享和2年１～２月前半）(coming soon)

 

The first article of the diary from 1849 to 1864, fifty-three articles in total、1849年から1864年の日記の最初の記事：
Yoshino’s daily life 01, About Yoshino and background 吉野家とその頃

 

 

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