Request to the lord to retire and children's smallpox (January to April, 1805)、隠居願いと子どもたちの疱瘡（文化2年１～４月）
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In the 19th century, family
heads, whose hereditary name was "Hyōemon Yoshino", lived in
Nagareyama near Edo (old name of Tokyo). They were farmers and heads of a
small village, however, their lord had granted them permissions not only to
use a surname like samurai but also to identify themselves as his retainers.
By examining the diaries kept by
successive generations of Hyōemon, I'm trying to know the lives and the fun
things of the villagers. The diaries from 1802 to1864 were published in “Nagareyama
City History: Volume III to V".
The first article；Peaceful days and fun of a village head
in 19th century, part 1（千葉県流山の名主日記）
The previous article：Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 13（千葉県流山の名主日記） Daughter contracted smallpox (October to December, 1804)
1805
In March, Japan (shogunate/Bakufu)
rejected a demand for trade from Russia; demands similar to it were made by the
United States and other western nations. Japan was still keeping its policy of
national isolation.
In June, the office (Kanto Regional Inspectors) was established
to address deteriorating public order such as increasing of gangs of gamblers.
In this year, a surgery using herbal anesthesia was done;
medical treatment was improving. Time was slowly changing and improving. But
life in rural area was almost same as it was in the last year.
January
On New Year's Day, Hyōuemon visited the local guardian shrine.
On the 3rd, he sent his son (Fusajirō) to
Nagareyama as his representative to offer New Year's greetings; this
served as both elite training and preparation for the eventual succession of
the family headship.
The "Young Men's Himachi (a waiting-sun event) " and
the thanksgiving ceremony for the Sannō deity were also held as usual.
The master traveled to Edo on the 21st. He paid his
New Year's respects to the lord on the 23rd, apparently bringing
gifts such as refined white sugar and hanshi (paper). He returned
home on the 29th.
While he was away, a fire broke out in Nagareyama on the
23rd.
That year saw a high frequency of fires; records indicate that
the Abiko post-town
was "burned down completely" in February. There was also a fire in
the nearby villages of Nonoshita and Yokosuka.
February
On the 2nd, a memorial service was held for a
beloved red dog that had died of illness.
Pet funerals were held even back then; although the era was
materially poorer than today, the affection people poured into their pets was
no different from what we see now.
*Btw, pets in those days were animals that worked alongside
humans, which deepened the bonds and affection between them. Dogs
chased away wild animals that ate crops. Cattle and horses plowed the
fields alongside people. Chickens laid eggs while pecking at fallen
grains. Carp grew eating grains in drain from kitchen. Even today, in
rural areas, goats remove (eat) weeds and produce milk. Few animals
were kept solely as pets back then. *
On the 8th, his wife and children (Fusajiro and Nayo)
visited a shrine dedicated to the deity of smallpox in Komaki-Shinden
Village. Treatment was ongoing for their daughter, Shun-chan, who had
contracted smallpox the previous November.
That year, a servant named Hyozo was chosen to make a
pilgrimage to Narita. He set out on the 1st for Narita, located
nearly 50 kilometers away. It was only two-day journey, so harsh one. Yet,
given how rare such opportunities for travel were, I imagine it was
an enjoyable experience for him.
March
On the 9th, he sent a letter to his lord
explaining that he could not perform his duties due to his own illness
and his mother's serious condition. Unfortunately, the retired lord passed away
from illness.
He traveled to Edo on the 22nd, attended the funeral
the following day, and returned home on the 29th. It seems the
plan for his own retirement fell through.
On the 11th, he visited the family member of
Shiba-kyū to offer well-wishes regarding a case of smallpox. The patient
recovered, and on the 19th, he was invited to the celebratory
bathing rite. It was a relief.
April
On the 4th, the entry reads, "Went to Hyōzō’s
new house. It was the “ei” activity." This marks a servant
setting out on his own—a joyous occasion.
*The term "ei" likely refers to a system of
communal labor within the village, “yui”. In Shirakawa-go in central
Japan, for instance, “yui” group for re-thatching huge roofs continued
until recent years. Hyōemon presumably went the new house under construction to
assist or to join a completion party.
On the 20th, the diary notes, "Went to
Saikachi-Shinden to buy a medicinal plaster"; it cost around 13,000
yen at present value. He was probably searching for an effective remedy for
Shun-chan.
On the 8th of the following month, he wrote, "A
soft-shelled turtle (suppon) was caught and was brought to his
house." This is the first mention of such a turtle. I just guess it was
gotten to help build up Shun-chan's strength.
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| Stone monument of the deity of smallpox in a shrine (upper left, built in 1775)、千葉県松戸市・王子神社の疱瘡神碑（安永4年） |
江戸後期、東京近郊の流山に戸主が代々・吉野兵右衛門を名乗る人たちがいた。兵右衛門は小村の名主だが、領主から姓のみならず、家来であると名乗ることも許されていた。
代々の兵右衛門の日記（1802～1864、『流山市史 近世資料編Ⅲ～Ⅴ』に掲載）から、当時の村人たちの暮らしと、本ブログのテーマである「何を楽しみとして生きていたのか」を探っていく。
最初の記事；Peaceful days and fun of a village head in 19th century, part 1（千葉県流山の名主日記） 名主・兵右衛門が生きた流山
直近の記事：Peaceful days and funs of a village
head in 19th century, part 13（千葉県流山の名主日記） 疱瘡にかかった娘（1804(文化元)年10~12月）
1805年（文化２）
３月、ロシアからの通商要求を拒否。内政面では、６月に関東取締出役を設置。博徒が増えるなど治安が悪くなった。一方、華岡青洲が世界初の全身麻酔を薬草でおこなった年でもある。医療は進み、世界は変化しているが、村の人々の暮らしは大きくは変化していない。
１月
元旦は、鎮守参詣。３日、流山での年礼に房次郎くんを名代として出した。英才教育であり、代替わりの準備だ。
若者日待、山王奉謝も例年通り行われた。
主人は、21日に出府し、23日に殿様に年礼。白砂糖や半紙などを持参したようだ。帰宅は29日。
留守中の23日に流山で火事。この年は、火事が多い。２月は我孫子宿が“残らず消失”と記載され、近所の野々下村でも火事。７月は横須賀村で火事。
２月
２日、“飼赤犬病死、則、追善”、愛犬の供養だ。ペットの葬式は今に始まったことではなかった。物質的には今より貧しかったが、ペットを慈しむ気持ちは今と同じだ。
ただし、当時のペットは人間と共に働く動物。愛着も深まる。（参考記事：江戸・明治に学ぶ、働く楽しみ（動物とともに働き、暮らし、癒やされる））
８日、妻と子どもたち（房次、なよ）が駒木新田の疱瘡神に参拝。11月に疱瘡にかかった、しゅんちゃんへの施薬は続く。
この年は、成田に参詣したのは使用人の兵蔵。１日に出発し、50km近く離れた成田へ１泊2日の旅。ハードだ。
３月
９日、御屋敷に、自分の病気と母の大病で勤められない旨の書状を送る。しかし、折悪しく、御隠居様が病死。22日に出府して、翌日の御葬送に参列、29日に帰宅。自分の隠居話は立ち消えになったようだ。
11日、芝久の家人の疱瘡見舞へ行く。回復し19日に疱瘡湯掛けに呼ばれた。よかった。
４月
４日、“兵蔵の新家へゑいに行く”。使用人の独立だ。おめでたい。
＊“ゑい”は、村の共同作業の結い（ゆい）だと思う。白川郷では、萱葺き屋根を葺き替える結いが近年まで行われていた。兵右衛門は、普請か棟上げなどの宴席で出かけたのだろう。
20日、“さいかち新田へ膏薬買いに行く。２朱”とあり、しゅんちゃん用の良薬を求めて手を尽くしているようだ。翌月８日には、“すっぽん捕来”と書かれている。すっぽんは初出なので、これも精を付けさせるためかもしれない。
Previous post (museum in central Japan): Yamada Ryokan (inn) at Otari hot-spring and its museum、小谷温泉山田旅館と山田資料館（長野県）
Next post (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 15（千葉県流山の名主日記): Rice planting and mother's medical condition (May to August, 1805)、田植えと母の病状（文化2年5～8月） (coming soon)
The first article in this series (from 1802 to 1848)、シリーズ（1802年から1848年）最初の記事 : Peaceful days and funs of a village
head in 19th century, part 1（千葉県流山の名主日記）
直近の記事：Peaceful days and funs of a village
head in 19th century, part 13（千葉県流山の名主日記） Daughter contracted
smallpox (October to December, 1804)、疱瘡にかかった娘（文化元年10~12月）
The first article of the diary from 1849 to 1864, fifty-three
articles in total、1849年から1864年の日記（53記事）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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