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）
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| Travel views of Japan and Korea https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/agc/item/2018719596/resource/ |
May
Rice planting began on the 17th. The following day was the start of the
rainy season on the calendar—the period just before summer.
However, it is written that planting
on the day was suspended due to the cold. One hopes this did not lead to a
poor harvest.
The Edo period (1603～1868) was generally characterized by a cold climate. The years between 1820 and 1850 were particularly cold; the period that saw the Tenpo Famine. In 1832–33 (Tenpo 3–4), rice yields plummeted to less than half of normal levels. The famine conditions persisted until 1838 (Tenpo 9).
June
On the 6th and 7th, Kokichi and others
came to help with the rice planting. The work had likely been delayed because
several family members had fallen ill.
Thanks to their assistance, the planting was completed on the 8th.
Since then, Mino and others were sent out to help with rice
planting at other households.
The 12th was a rest day, as was the 13th.
13th, "A neighbor, who had come to ask for help
with rice planting, treated us to udon noodles as a token of
appreciation."
Even when payment wasn't in cash, proper gratitude was shown.
It is written on the same day, "The widow from the Heisuke
shop (maybe shop and pub) came to visit the sick, bringing five bundles of
beans."
It seems the proprietress of the shop came to offer her
well-wishes. Hyōemon, the master of the house and the author of this diary, was
a frequent patron of the Heisuke shop.
Incidentally, on the 11th, Shiba-ji had come to visit
his sick mother.
For three days starting on the 19th, was the "sanaburi"
holiday (celebrating the completion of rice planting). Fusajirō resumed his
studies of reading, writing, and the abacus.
20th, Hyōemon was invited to the Shiba-kyu's house
for udon. The post-planting season was a time for udon parties!
26th, Kihē and Yohei set out on the pilgrimage to
Ōyama Shrine; it was the annual event of the village. The village
observed a holiday to pray for their safe journey.
July
Bon events took place as usual. 15th (the final day of Bon), Teirin
(likely a Buddhist monk) visited. He provided fifteen types of medicines,
including licorice root. His mother and daughter had been suffering from
prolonged illnesses.
August
19th, he borrowed some books from Chofuku-ji
(temple).
The temple served many functions —offering counsel, lending
money and books, and more—. It maintained a close relationship with the local
residents, which was same as other temples back then.
That day, Hyoe-mon went to Omiya, a shop by the riverbank, to
buy medicine for his mother.
As it turned out, his mother had gone to Kato Village the
previous day and returned the day after; her illness was not severe enough to
keep her bedridden. Anyway, it was a relief.
27th, he set out on a pilgrimage to Narita-san
(temple). He also traveled to Omonma Village (in Ibaraki Prefecture), where he
met Teirin and stayed the night. He returned home on the evening of the 29th.
Work did not seem so busy; it was the time of year to wait for
the rice crop to mature.
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| Rice field in early August at Nagano pref. |
５月
17日に田植開始。翌日は入梅だったが、寒いので休日にしたと書かれている。不作にならなければ良いが。
江戸時代は総じて寒冷な時代だった。特に、1820～1850年が寒く、天保の飢饉もこの時期に起った。1832～33（天保3～４）年は収穫が半分以下の凶作となり、以後1838（天保9）年にかけて飢饉。
６月
６・7日に、幸吉、音八らが田植の助けに来た。病人続出で田植が遅れたのだろう。助けのおかげか、８日に田植え仕舞い。
以降は他家の田植の助けに、みのたちを出している。
12日は手休め休日、13日も休日。
“隣にて、田植助っ人請いに付き、謝礼として、うんとん（うどん）振舞”。お金ではなくても、御礼はちゃんとしている。
この日、“平助店後家、病気見舞に来る。ささけ（豆）五束”と記載。飲み屋のおかみさんが見舞いに来たようだ。主人であり、この日記を書いた兵右衛門は、平助店にはよく行く。
なお、11日には、芝次が母親を見舞に来ている。
19日から三日間は早苗振休日。村の田植えは完了したようだ。房次郎は手習いを再開。兵右衛門は、20日、芝久にうどんに呼ばれる。うどんパーティーの季節だ!
26日、今年の大山参拝は、喜兵衛と与平。村は休日にし、旅の無事を願う。
７月
例年通り、お盆行事があり、15日に貞倫が来た。甘草など15種の薬を置いていってくれた。母や娘の病気は長引いている。
８月
19日、長福寺で書物を借りる。
寺は、お金を貸したり本を貸したり、相談にのったり、機能が豊富だ。住民との距離も近い。
この日、兵右衛門は河岸の近江屋に母の薬を買いに行った。しかし、母は、前日に加藤に行き、翌日に帰宅。母は、寝込むほどではない病気だ。よかった。
27日、成田山参詣。小文間村（取手市）へ行き、貞倫と会って泊めてもらう。29日夕、帰宅。
稲の成長を待つ時期。仕事は忙しくなさそうだ。
Previous post (Peaceful days and fun of a village head in 19th
century, part 14（千葉県流山の名主日記）): 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）
Next post (Peaceful days and funs of a village head in 19th century,
part 16（千葉県流山の名主日記): Autumn festival and the death of a newborn son (August of lunar calendar and September, 1805)、秋祭りと新生児の死（文化2年壬8、9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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