Peaceful days and fun of a village head in 19th century, part 18（千葉県流山の名主日記）

New Year's greetings and newlywed daughter who wanted to go back to her parents' home (January and February, 1806)、年始挨拶、実家に戻りたがる結婚したての娘（文化３年１、２月）

千葉県流山市にいた名主の日記から、その頃の楽しみを拾い出した記事です（日本語は後半）。

A New Year's greeting, Yokohama, Japan 1905 https://www.loc.gov/item/2020637841/

 

1806

As arrivals of foreign ships seeking trade increased, the Shogunate (Bakufu) ordered coastal domains (han) to strengthen their defenses. It also levied forced contributions on the merchants in Edo (old name of Tokyo); its finances were in dire straits.

Yet, amidst such times, life for the Yoshino family continued just as it always had.

 

 

January

The days were filled with New Year's greetings.

 

8^th, Hyōemon, who wrote this diary, traveled to Katō Village to offer New Year's greetings. The village was where Chiyo (likely his daughter) had married and moved just at the end of the previous year.

The gifts he brought are recorded. Sanzaemon received ten sheets of Asakusa nori (dried seaweed) and five dried squids; other relatives received items such as hanshi paper, white tabi socks, and food accompaniments for sake (alcohol).

 

22^nd, he paid New Year's calls at the lord's residence in Edo; he presented white sugar to the lord and to Mr. Kawamura. One gets the impression he chose a gift that wouldn't be a burden to store.

 

He traveled to Edo by boat on the 21^st (arriving at Yanagibashi in Ryōgoku), accompanied by a relative named Chie (girl). Chie would be in service in Kanda until the end of the year.

Hyōemon made his rounds, purchased items such as obi belts at Daimaru-ya, and returned to his village on the 29^th.

 

His eldest son, Fusajirō, went to Kashiwa to offer New Year's greetings. He was acting as Hyōemon's proxy and gaining experience for his future role as village headman.

 

Back in the village, there were thanksgiving rituals for the local guardian deity on the 9^th and for Sannō on the 20^th; the young men held a Himachi (sun-waiting) gathering on the 11^th, with the 12^th and 13^th observed as Himachi holidays. This village certainly had plenty of days off. On the 12^th, Hyōemon served as the host venue for the Kōshin-kou meeting.

 

 

February

1^st, Hyōemon visited Chōfuku-ji Temple and learned that the head priest had submitted a request to retire.

Although the retirement was approved in June, the selection of a successor proved difficult. Hyōemon became involved in the process, and after numerous meetings, a successor was chosen in July of that year.

The new priest took up residence at the temple in October.

 

The retired head priest’s name was Shunyu.

While Chōfuku-ji Temple itself was defunct, the cemetery remains to this day—and remarkably, Shunyu’s gorintō (five-ring stone pagoda) is still there.

I was astonished to see this proof that Shunyu had actually existed.

Shunyu’s gorintō　「當山　法印俊喩」と彫られた五輪塔

 

4^th, the Inari thanksgiving ritual (Hatsu-uma) took place. It was decided that Hyōemon would serve as the host for the event the following year.

 

Okitsu (believed to be the new name adopted by "Chie" after she married into the Kato Village) stayed at the Yoshino house from January 15^th to the 26^th.

She continued to visit Yoshino frequently thereafter; she even participated in the rice-planting in May.

 

Although there were repeated demands from Kato Village for her to return, Okitsu would come back to Yoshino even after going back to Kato Village.

The backgrounds remain unclear.

 

17^th, a holiday for Tsujigiri (a ritual clearing of village boundaries) was observed.

20^th, Magoichi returned to the village after completing a fasting training at Naritasan temple.

Fasting trainings are still held at Naritasan temple. It is a practice of disciplining the mind and body near the deity Fudō Myōō. The fasting is said to have benefits such as detoxification. It has now become popular as a health practice as well.

 

 

Main hall of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple、成田山新勝寺本堂

 

1806年（文化3）

外国船の来航が増え、幕府は沿海諸藩に防備を命じた。また、江戸町人には御用金を課した。財政は苦しい。

そんな時代だったが、吉野家の暮らしはいつも通り続く。

 

１月

年礼の記載が続く。

８日、この日記を書いた兵右衛門は、加藤村へ年礼に行く。ちよが年末に嫁いだばかり村だ。

持参した品が書かれている。三左衛門には、浅草海苔10枚、するめ５枚。他の親戚には半紙や白足袋、肴などを贈っている。

 

22日は江戸の御屋敷で年礼。殿様や川村様に白砂糖を贈った。置き場に困らない物にしたのかなあという感じだ。

 

江戸には、21日に船で行き（両国柳橋着）、親戚のちえが同道した。ちえは、年末まで神田で奉公する。

兵右衛門は各所を回り、大丸屋で帯などを買って、29日に帰村。

 

長男の房次郎は、柏へ年礼に行った。兵右衛門の代理であり、名主修行だ。

 

村では、９日に鎮守奉謝、20日に山王奉謝、若者達は11日に日待、なんと12、13日が日待休日。この村は休みが多い。12日は、吉野家が庚申講の宿（開催場所）を務めた。

 

 

２月

1日、長福寺に行き、方丈が隠居願いを出したことを聞く。６月に隠居が認められたのだが、後住選びが難航。兵右衛門も関与して、頻繁な打合せを経て、この年の７月に後住が決まった。10月に着任（入院）する。

 

隠居した方丈の名は、俊喩。

長福寺はなくなっているが、今も墓地は残っており、なんと、俊喩の五輪塔がある。

俊喩が実在した証拠を目の当たりにし、驚いた。上の写真の五輪塔には "當山　法印俊喩" と彫られている。側面には “文化６年４月” とあり、日記の記載 “昨夜、八つ時、長福寺隠居俊喩死去の由（４月17日）“と一致していた。

 

４日、稲荷奉謝、いわゆる初午。翌年は兵右衛門が宿を務めると決った。

 

おきつ（加藤村へ嫁いだ「ちえ」が改名したと思われる）は、１月15～26日まで吉野家に滞在していた。その後も、吉野家をしばしば訪れ、田植にも参加している。

加藤村からは、戻ってこい、戻ってこいと再三再四の催促があるが、おきつは、加藤村へもどっても、また、吉野家に来てしまう。

事情はわからない。

２月７日、25日などに「おきつ関所明けの儀」との記載がある。「関所明け」の意味がわからないのだが、通行手形が不要になったのかもしれない。吉野家は下総国古間木村、嫁ぎ先は、江戸川を隔てて武蔵国加藤村。輿入れ後しばらくは、正式な手形が必要だったのが、木札などに代わったのかもしれない。

 

17日、辻切り休日。

20日、孫市が成田山での断食を終えて帰村。

今も成田山では断食修行が催されている。不動明王のもとで、心身を鍛錬する行で、断食はデドックスなど効果があるようだ。今や、健康法としても人気がある。

 

 

Previous post  (Peaceful days and fun of a village head in 19th century, part 17（千葉県流山の名主日記）): Yoshino family after the harvesting season (October to December, 1805)、収穫後の吉野家（文化2年10～12月）

Next post (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century, part 19（千葉県流山の名主日記): Great fire in Edo / divorce, remarriage, and bereavement of acquaintances (March and April, 1806)、江戸の大火、離婚・再婚・死別（文化３年３、４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）

 

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