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

Insects (vol. 12)、蟲（むし）（巻の十二/上）   Japanese like insects . In the end of 11 th century, the emperor ordered high-ranking bureaucrats to go to the suburb (Sagano) and catch insects in September. Local children caught insects, then they were brought to the palace. Insects were kept in the cage with autumn flowers. Bureaucrats enjoy drinking and reciting poems while listening to the sound of the insects .  It was a really graceful party. By the way, people went to the mountains to hear the sounds of various insects in the Edo period (1868-1912). It was cool that they set carpets on the ground and enjoyed finger foods and sake. Even now, we notice the changing of the season by the voice of the insects , especially in summer and autumn. Hearing the sounds of insects at Mt. Doukan in Edo 、道潅山虫聞之図 / 部分（広重） http://www.ndl.go.jp/landmarks/details/detail451.html?sights=dokanyama;tokyo=arakawa 　虫を愛でることは、日本人の特長だ。 『著聞集』（ 1254 ）に、 天皇の命で殿上人達が虫を捕りに嵯峨野に出かけた ことが記されている。 1095...

Prostitute (Vol.9)、遊女（娼妓/巻の九）  Some prostitutes lived by the river near Osaka (Kanzaki) in the 11 th century. They visited travelers by boat, and sang. They were called “ Nakareno(floating)-kimi(girl) ”. I t is written, “All people from noble men to ordinary men enjoyed.” A girl got a favor from the Prime Minister (M.Fujiwara). Thirty years later, another girl got affection from his son (Y. Fujiwara) who was also the PM who built Byodouin temple in Uji, Kyoto. The author wrote elegantly, although people just enjoyed while traveling . It’s good. Byodouin temple 　『朝野群載』（ 1116 ）に、 11 世紀ごろの話 が書かれている。 摂津の神崎などの河辺には遊女が住んでいて、「扁舟に乗て旅舶に着、枕席を薦め歌をうたふ」、 公家から庶民まで「接（まじわ）らざることなし」 とある。 東三条（藤原道長）が住吉・天王寺を詣で小観音を寵じた。三十年ほど後には、息子の上東門院（藤原頼通）が御幸し中君を賞したという。栄華の極みにあった貴族が遊ぶのだから、しっかりしたシステムがあったのだろう。 遊女が流れの君、ながれの身などと歌に詠まれたのは、水辺に構え舟に乗って来たからであり、「駅路のほど良きとこ処はいずくにも住いなるべし」となったという。 美しく書かれてはいるが、旅先でみんな羽根を伸ばしていたということだ 。いいなあ。  In the Edo period (1603—1868), people went to see sakura cher...

Published in 1830 Author : Nobuyo Kitamura 、喜多村信節 人の楽しみの発見度： Excellent  ★★★ Introduction、はじめに   The author collected many joyful things and events ( Kiyu ), and provided them as the seeds of laughter ( Shouran ).   The author (1783-1856) was born around 240 years ago, and published it when he was forty-eight. This is an encyclopedia of entertainments .   How did people enjoy their daily life without smartphones?   The answer is written here. Huge amount of entertainments from festivals to prostitutes, are explained.   There were not enough things that made our lives comfortable back then. However, people created tools of entertainments from things at hand including humans, animals and plants. And they had a good time.   There are too many items, so I selected things which I like. Sumo wrestling game   Kasukabe history museum 　春日部市郷土資料館   人々が 嬉遊する様々な物事 を集めて、 笑いの種に供する（笑覧）する という本だ。  著者は、今から約 240 ...

There were no TVs and no smartphones back then . How did they enjoy their daily life? I'm eager to know it, so I'm seeking for it by old diaries, museums and books. ＊日本語文は後半に纏めて記載いたしました。 Latest revision of this article （最新の改訂版）： What is the fun of Japanese more than one hundred years ago? 　昔の人々の楽しみとは ? 　（ vol.1/r.1 ）   I have already known four elements of the fun of old Japanese.     (1) Gathering with the neighbors     (2) Traveling   (3) Reading   (4) Owning favorite goods  I'm sure to find one more element -- it is "loving one another" The most different behavior from modern lives , is “gathering” .  We tend to avoid gathering. We are not good with gatherings.   However, it was impossible not to gather in the Edo period (1603—1868). Because, - The average population of a village was only four hundred 1) .    People knew one another and could not avoid contacting with neighbors . - The ...