KAPPA - Omagatoki demon dusk

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oomagatoki, Ōmagatoki 逢魔時 / 大禍時 "demon dusk"

. kure 暮れ dusk, nightfall, twilight .
tasogaredoki たそがれどき, 黄昏
In former times there were no street lights and it was difficult to see the faces of people when you walked at nightfall. Still not yet the time for a lantern to find your way. So when people met, they would exchange a greeting:
Taso kare wa? 誰そ、彼は (dare daroo, are wa?) "Who is this?". Taso kare ... became tasogare in the course of time, now loaded with the feeling of loneliness and melancholy.



- quote -
Ōmagatoki - referring to the moment at dusk when the sky grows dark. Opposite of akatsuki (暁) dawn.
It has specific meanings for the two ways of writing it:
first, 逢魔時 "the time of meeting yōkai, yūrei, and dark creatures"; and
second, 大禍時 "the time of great calamity".

In Illustrated One Hundred Demons from the Present and the Past, Toriyama Sekien described ōmagatoki as the time when chimimōryō, the evil spirits of the mountains and rivers, attempt to materialize in the world.



Chimimōryō, chimi mooryoo 魑魅魍魎 Chimi Moryo
is a term, originated from China dating roughly 2,500 years in ancient chronicles such as the Zuo Zhuan, referring to monsters of the mountains and monsters of the rivers. It refers to various kinds of obake and things changed into yōkai.
"chimi" (魑魅) refers to the monsters of the mountains, and
"mōryō" (魍魎) refers to the monsters of the river,
and so the word "chimimōryō" is often used to refer to all monsters of the mountains and rivers. Furthermore, the word "minori" was also used for this. For this to be used to mean a "ripening" (minoru) oni has been used in various regions since ancient times.
..... a 魑 is a mountain god that took on the shape of a tiger, and
..... a 魅 is a swamp or marsh god taking on a shape with the head of a beast, and it is surmised that from this, what the word was seen to mean expanded to encompass beasts of various attributes.
- - - - - Chimi are said to be monsters that come about from strange atmosphere (miasma) in mountains and forests. Taking on an appearance with the face of a human, and the body of a beast, they would perplex humans. In the dictionary Wamyō Ruijushō from the Heian period, they were considered to be a type of oni under the Japanese name 魑魅 / "sudama", and in the Edo period encyclopedia, the Wakan Sansai Zue, they were seen to be mountain gods (Yama-no-Kami).
- - - - - Mōryō were considered to be spirits from mountains and rivers, and trees and rocks. They would come forth from the life energy of mountains, water, trees, rocks, and all kinds of things in nature, and fool humans. Additionally, they are also said to eat the dead, have the appearance of a child, stand on 2 feet, have dark red skin, have red eyes, long ears, beautiful hair, and a voice that resembles that of a human. With this kind of appearance, they are thought to be oni. In the Wakan Sansai Zue, they are considered water gods (Suijin), and in the ancient Chinese book Zuo Zhuan, they are considered to be gods of swamps and marshes.
- reference source : wikipedia -




魑魅魍魎 - 妖怪巡礼怪奇地図
山口敏太郎 Yamaguchi Bintaro (1966 - )
- 北海道・洞爺湖のトッシーを追う 大沼のサイ伝説 毎夜鳴き声がこだまする〝泣き木〝 岩手・座敷わらし伝説 なまはげ伝承の地 青森・キリストの墓 京都・土蜘蛛の塚 安倍清明神社 一条戻り橋 熊本・河童上陸の地 東京・帝都東京妖怪スポット

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. Yama no Kami　山の神 God of the Mountains .

. Mizu no Kami 水の神 God of the Water .

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- - - - - H A I K U - - - - -

卯の花や逢魔時の通り雨
unohana ya oomagatoki no toori-ame

deutzia blossoms -
a passing rain shower
at demon dusk

Naitoo Toten 内藤吐天 Naito Toten (1900 - 1976)

. u no hana, unohana 卯の花 deutzia blossoms .
- kigo for early summer -

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逢魔時色褪せし薔薇に雨灑ぐ
oomagatoki iro-aseshi bara ni ame sosogu

demon dusk -
rain splatters on the roses
with faded colors

Naitoo Toten 内藤吐天 Naito Toten (1900 - 1976)



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Chimi Mouryou - webcomic by Rasenth


source : cmmr.smackjeeves.com


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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .

. - yookai, yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk Art from Japan .

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Posted By Gabi Greve to Kappa - The Kappapedia on 7/02/2017 09:51:00 am

EDO - Senju district

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
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Senju 千住 Senju district
千住 Senju, "one-thousand homes" - the local people call the place "Senji".


千住の大はし Great bridge at Senju
Utagawa Hiroshige

Since traffic passing Senju was busy since the early Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu allowed a large bridge to be built over the river 隅田川 Sumidagawa in 1594. It was about 200 meters more upstream than the bridge is now, and the postal station 千住宿 Senju-Shuku was on the North side of the bridge (Kita Senju). Most Daimyo stayed here on their way in and out of Edo, heading North. Providing fresh food for the many travellers was important.
Along the river where also lumber yards, storing the lumber coming downriver in rafts from Chichibu.

Kita-Senju　北千住　North-Senju
Minami-Senju 　南千住 South-Senju

- quote -
Adachi-ku, Senju / Arakawa-ku, Minamisenju
Description
There are several theories for the origin of the area name, some say it is related to the 千手 senju (thousand hand) Kannon statue that was located at 勝専寺 Shosen-Ji Temple,
and others say it was related to the fact that the Chiba clan lived there (In Japanese the first character of the name 千葉 "Chiba" can be read as "sen" and "ju" can mean lived, so this could mean something like "place where the Chiba clan lived").


千住花街眺望ノ不二　－　Senju kagai yori chobo no Fuji
Katsushika Hokusai

This was the first post station on the Nikko-kaido Road (Oshu-kaido Road) and one of the 4 posting stations of Edo. In 1594 the Senju-ohashi Bridge was constructed on the Arakawa-river (present day Sumida-gawa River), and the area developed as an important place for transportation and travel in conjunction with the construction of the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Iemitsu in Nikko in 1625.
From the Kyoho Era (1716-36) onward, morning markets were held every day in the やちゃば　"yacchaba" (yatchaba) within the posting stations, and were as popular as the fish markets of Nihonbashi. The area also supposed Edo's prosperity through water transport as a stopping point on the Kawagoe yofune (Kawagoe evening ships) which linked Kawagoe and Edo in a single evening and transported tourists as well as grain, fuel and fresh fish.
There was an execution ground in Kozukahara on the southern coast, which was known as the area where Sugita Genpaku and Maeno Ryotaku attended the autopsies of executed criminals in 1771.
In 1667, the Ekoin Temple was established in order to hold memorial services for those who died while in prison or who were executed.
- source : ndl.go.jp/landmarks/e...


. Kozukahara, Kozukappara keijō 小塚原刑場 Kozukappara execution grounds .
located near the southwest exit of Tokyo's Minami-Senju Station. ...
and
kubikiri Jizoo　首切り地蔵 Jiso Bosatsu to help the beheaded


There is also a theory about a beauty named 千寿 Senju ("A thousand long lives"), mistress of 足利義政 Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436 - 1490), who was born in a village here, thus later giving her name to the place.



千住大橋 Senju Ohashi Bridge - - 江戸名所図会 Edo Meisho Zue

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Senjuunegi, Senjuu negi 千住葱 leek from Senju, Senjunegi 千寿葱
They are best when simply grilled over charcoal.



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Kita Senju 北千住 "North-Senju"



source :　tomochika0430


Senju shuku 千住宿
first stop on the Oshu Dochu and Nikko Dochu 奥州道中 - 日光道中

. Edo shishuku 江戸四宿 The four most important SHUKUBA out of Edo .

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. tsukegi no ema 北千住 付け木の絵馬 votive tablet on a wooden frame .
made at the shop Yoshidaya 吉田家


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- - - - - H A I K U and S E N R Y U - - - - -

行く春や鳥啼き魚の目は泪
yuku haru ya tori naki uo no me wa namida

spring is leaving ..
birds sing and the eyes of fish
are full of tears

Basho at Senju 千住 in 1689, taking final leave from his friends.
Departure 千住 江戸、旅立ち . 3月37日 (now May 16)

. Matsuo Basho, Oku no Hosomichi 奥の細道 .

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. Takebe Soochoo 建部巣兆 Takebe Socho (1761-1814) .
He was one of the leading haiku poets of Edo during his time, together with Suzuki Michihiko 鈴木道彦 and Natsume Seibi 夏目成美.
He was a famous resident of the Senju 千住 district.

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. Kobayashi Issa in Edo 小林一茶　.

早立は千住留りか帰る雁
haya tatsu wa Senju-domari ka kaeru kari

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Posted By Gabi Greve to Edo - the EDOPEDIA - on 7/02/2017 10:58:00 am

GOKURAKU - Kawanabe Kyosai Hell Paintings

https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.jp/2017/06/kawanabe-kyosai-hell-paintings.html

Kawanabe Kyosai Hell Paintings

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. jigokue, jigoku-e 地獄絵 paintings of hell .
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Kawanabe Kyoosai, Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎 Kawanabe Kyosai
Kawanabe Gyoosai, Kawanabe Gyōsai 河鍋暁斎 Gyosai

画鬼暁斎 Gaki Kyosai, the Demon of painting - as he called himself !

Kyōsai witnessed Japan transform from a feudal country into a modern state.

. Kawanabe Kyosai 河鍋暁斎 (1831 - 1889) .
- Introduction -
Paintings of Daruma, Fudo Myo-O ...
Kawanabe Kyosai Memorial Museum, Warabi, Saitama

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kisai 鬼才・河鍋暁斎 The Genius Kawanabe Kyosai - "Demon Genuius"

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Jigoku Dayu 地獄太夫がいこつの遊戯を夢に見る図 - Hell courtesan


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The Deities of Good Luck throwing beans at the demons
Daikoku, Ebisu and O-Fuku
oni wa soto 鬼は外 "Demons, get out!"　「鬼は―外！　福は―内！」



. setsubun 節分 "seasonal divide" rituals .

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左甚五郎と京美人圖 Hidari Jingoro and a Kyoto Beauty
detail of a folding screen / 左甚五郎と京美人図

. Hidari Jingoroo 左甚五郎 Hidari Jingoro .
skilfull artist, sculptor and carpenter

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'Kyosai Hyaku-zu' 狂斎百図　- One Hundred Pictures by Kyosai


- CLICK for more photos ! -


- quote -
Oni no inu ma ni sentaku (Doing the Laundry While the Demon is Away)
This original Kawanabe Kyosai (Gyosai) woodcut is printed on nineteenth century Japanese mulberry (rice) paper and with full margins as published by Okura Magobei between 1881 - 1886 in the Kyosai Hyakuzu, 'Kyosai Hyaku-zu' (One Hundred Pictures by Kyosai).
It depicts scenes from Japanese folklore & proverbs dealing with household chores, games & demons (Yokai & Oni). The image is constructed by means of two horizontal subjects, the first scene contains a Japanese proverb or expression (Kotowaza), that reads; "Oni no inu ma ni sentaku" which loosely translates to (Doing the Laundry While the Demon is away) or (When the cat is away, the mice will play). The scene depicts a woman washing clothes and a large cat sitting nearby while a grumpy old man goes out for a walk.
The Japanese proverb for he lower scene reads; "Oya ni ninu ko wa oni no ko" which translates to (A child that does not resemble its parents is a Demon Child). Depending on the context, this expression can refer to a child who is misbehaving and is not adapting to the family expectations or it may refer to a simple children's game known as hide and seek. Here the artist depicts children at play, a mother, with her naked child wrapped around her shoulders, chasing a diminutive demon, who in turn is chasing after several frightened children. However, the expression of laughter on the mother's face as she grabs at the little red demon, indicates that it is all in fun. Laughter, in fact, appears to be the connecting link within these delightful and bizarre scenes.
- source : artoftheprint.com/artistpages/kyosai -




..... scenes from Japanese folklore and proverbs dealing with household chores, games and demons (Yokai and Oni).
from the series 'Kyosai Hyaku-zu' 狂斎百図　- One Hundred Pictures by Kyosai.
. . . CLICK here for more Photos !


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暁斎百鬼画談 Kyosai - tales and paintings of 100 demons
"Kyosai's One Hundred Scary Illustrated Tales"








- CLICK for more photos ! -

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- book references : Kyosai at amazon com -


Night Parade Of Hell Creatures: Bizarre Demonic Art By Kyosai
by Jack Hunter (Editor), Kawanabe Kyosai (Artist)



Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-89) was only 6 years old when he joined the school of the great ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi, along with such fellow pupils as Yoshitoshi, who followed him in 1850. Later Kyosai studied traditional Japanese painting at the Kano school. As befits this varied apprenticeship, Kyosai would embrace many styles and methods during his artistic career. His eclectic approach may also be partly attributable to a legendary sake-drinking habit, which could account for the more bizarre extremes of his chosen subject matter - in particular, weird demons and the bloody tortures of Hell. Kyosai can now be regarded as not only one of the last true ukiyo-e masters, but also as one of the first truly modernist painters of Japan.

"Night Parade Of Hell Creatures", edited by Jack Hunter (who also edited the ground-breaking extreme ukiyo-e anthology "Dream Spectres"), collects and considers over 100 of Kyosai's most innovative, demented and bizarre images - including multiple yokai, ghosts and demons - presented in large-format and full-colour throughout.


- CLICK for more photos ! -


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Yokai Wars: Demonic Manga by Kyosai
by Kawanabe Kyosai (Author, Illustrator)



"Yokai Wars" is a special art ebook which collects two of Kyosai's most complete sets of colour sketches themed around demons, monsters, devil-animals, and visions of Hell. These 52 images, dating from 1879 and 1889, showcase the artist's deranged vision at its most inventive, delirious, darkly humorous and at times sadistic.



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画鬼 暁斎 Gaki Kyosai and Josiah Conder




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Hell in Japanese Art
by Ryouji Kajitani, Naoki Nishida (Authors), Kazuya Takaoka (Designer)



This art book showcases a wide collection of depictions of hell in Japanese art from the 12th century to the 19th century. The single-volume collection focuses primarily on works designated as Japanese National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties and features the various depictions of hell by prominent artists such as Kazunobu Kano, Nichōsai 耳鳥斎　Nichosai, Yoshitoshi Tsukioka and Kyosai Kawanabe.
This volume also features the 19th century woodblock-printed edition of "Ojoyoshu" The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land) written by the medieval Buddhist monk Genshin (942-1017) and is accompanied by modern bilingual text. ... These ideas of hell in "Ojoyoshu" have played an enduring role in inspiring Japanese Buddhist paintings and other subsequent texts, particularly from the medieval period onward, and are vividly portrayed in the painting featured in this volume.


. The Ōjōyōshū 往生要集 The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land .
Genshin　源信　 (942-1017), Eshin Soozu 恵心僧都 Eshin Sozu

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Demon of painting: the art of Kawanabe Kyōsai
Though ghosts and demons do not exist in this world, the artist Kawanabe Kyōsai proved his artistic worth in his paintings depicting them ...
Kawanabe Kyosai: Beauty and Demon Queller
Kawanabe Kyōsai's Bake-Bake Gakkō (化々學校), or 'School for Spooks' (1872) ... In a classroom full of demons we can see a desk that has sprouted legs ...
... an episode from the life of Shaka (Skt: Sakyamuni), the historical Buddha, the attack of the demon king Mara ...
- reference : kawanabe kyosai demons -


- - kawanabe kyōsai on facebook - -

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蝿虎即暁斎のかみつき貌

高澤良一 Takazawa Ryoichi


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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .


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SHRINE - Amewakahiko

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. kami　神　Shinto deities - Introduction .
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Amewakahiko, Ame-Waka-Hiko 天若日子 / 天稚彦　 / あめわかひこ
Ame wakahiko / Ame no wakahiko



- quote -
The child of Amatsukunitama. In preparation for the Descent of the Heavenly Grandchild (tenson kōrin), Amenohohi was first sent from the Plain of High Heaven to the residence of the earth kami Ōkuninushi, to pacify the Central Land of Reed Plains and engage in negotiations for its transfer to the Heavenly Grandchild. Amenohohi did not return, however, with the result that Amenowakahiko was entrusted with bow and arrow from the heavenly kami, and dispatched with the same mission. According to Kojiki, this appointment was at the recommendation of Omoikane, while Nihongi states that it was at the recommendation of all the heavenly kami.

Amewakahiko, however, took to wife Shitateruhime, the daughter of Ōkuninushi, and made plans to rule himself over the Central Land. Like his predecessor, Amewakahiko sent no report back to the Plain of High Heaven, with the result that Takamimusuhi and others convened a council of the heavenly kami; upon deliberation, they decided to dispatch the pheasant Nakime to inquire of Amewakahiko's true intentions. But Amawakahiko, urged on by Amenosagume, used the bow and arrow received from the heavenly kami to shoot the pheasant Nakime. The arrow pierced Nakime and continued to climb to heaven where it was found by Takamimusuhi; discerning the false heart of Amewakahiko, he flung the arrow back down at the Central Land where it struck Amewakahiko mortally in the breast.
Nihongi records that at the time he was killed, Amewakahiko was resting after observing the festival of first fruits (Niinamesai), while Kojiki states that he was lying in bed one morning. The histories relate that this event was the origin of the maxim, "fear a returning arrow," and the story is also touched upon in the "norito for the exorcism of a vengeful deity" (Tataru kami utsushiyarau).

Amewakahiko's name is mentioned in the fragmentary records of the Settsu no kuni fudoki, the Utsubo monogatari, Sagoromo monogatari, as well as the later Otogi zōshi. His name appears to have been widely used as a generic reference to male deities who descended from heaven to earth.
Deities called Amewakahiko are worshiped at some shikinaisha in the province of Izumo.
- source : Mori Mizue 2005 - Kokugakuin -

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- quote -
A Demon in the Sky:
The Tale of Amewakahiko, a Japanese Medieval Story
By Reider, Noriko T.
In most cultures demons and dragons reside at the heart of the supernatural, where their distinct status reflects their various cultural roles. This is also true of Japanese culture and folklore, where these creatures play prominent roles.
For present-day Japanese, oni (demons or ogres) typically reside in Buddhist hell to punish mortal sinners, but for their medieval counterparts, the oni's role and the space oni occupied were much more flexible. Perhaps a prime example of this is Amewakahiko söshi (Tale of Amewakahiko; fifteenth century), a fictional story that recounts one legendary origin of Tanabata (Festival of the Weaver, the Star Festival), the celebration of the annual meeting of the Weaver Maid and the Cowherd, who represent the stars Vega and Altair, respectively. In this version of the Tanabata story, an oni is standing in the beautiful serene sky. This oni turns out to be the father of a kairyüö (Kairyu-O, a dragon king of the ocean) who also lives in the sky. This dragon king calls himself Amewakahiko (sometimes Amewakamiko), hence the title.

The plot of The Tale of Amewakahiko
is similar to "Cupid and Psyche" by Lucius Apuleius (second century CE). Some scholars in Japan recognize "Cupid and Psyche" as the source of The Tale of Amewakahiko, and others read the dragon king's tale as indigenous to Japan. Although there is no finally persuasive evidence that the Japanese tale was influenced by "Cupid and Psyche," it is worthwhile to examine the Apuleian tale's connection to The Tale of Amewakahiko and to share these different scholarly perspectives from Japan in an English-language publication. Thus in this essay I discuss the various possible origins of the tale. Thinking of The Tale of Amewakahiko in a Japanese folkloric and literary context reveals a specifically medieval Japanese view of space boundaries (or lack thereof) of underground, earth, and heaven that oni and a dragon travel; it also suggests that studies of ancient and classical Japanese literature (periods of ancient and classical literature, 645-1185 CE) by medieval Japanese scholars influenced the choice of the characters' names and their actions in this tale.



--- Plot and Genre of The Tale of Amewakahiko
One day a huge serpent appears in front of a wealthy family's house. The serpent demands one of the family's three daughters for his wife or, he threatens, he will destroy the whole family. The two older daughters refuse, but the youngest daughter consents. A huge house is built near a pond as part of the wedding preparations requested by the serpent, and there, alone, she awaits her snake husband. When the gigantic serpent appears, he asks the girl to cut off his head. As she does so, a handsome, young gentleman appears, and they live happily in their newly built house. After a while, the husband reveals his true identity as a dragon king of the ocean and tells the girl that he must go to the sky to do some business. He tells her how to find him in the sky if he does not come back. He then orders her not to open a certain treasure chest-if the chest is opened, he tells her, he will not be able to return to earth. While he is away, her two older sisters visit her and become jealous of her wealth and happiness. They open the treasure chest from which only smoke arises. When the girl learns that her husband cannot return anymore, she goes to Kyoto as instructed by her husband before he left and buys a gourd whose vine grows to the sky in one night.

Climbing the vine up to the sky, the girl journeys in search of her husband, whose name, the reader has learned, is Amewakahiko (or Amewakamiko). With great difficulty, she finally finds him. Although they are happy together, Amewakahiko expresses his concern that if his father, an oni, becomes aware of her, there could be trouble. So whenever his father visits him, the dragon king changes his wife into a pillow or fan. But the secret is finally revealed one day, and the oni-father takes her away and imposes on her four difficult tasks. …
- source : questia.com/library/journal -

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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - Index - .

. Ryuu-oo 竜王 Ryu-O - The Dragon King .


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Amewakahiko Jinja 天稚彦神社 Shrine Amewakahiko



Built during the 戦国時代 Period of the Warring States by 高野瀬氏 Lord Takanose to protect his castle, the town and his people.
Many people come here on the 17th of each month to celebrate and attend rituals.

- reference : 天稚彦神社 -


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Amewakahiko Sooshi, sōshi 天稚彦草子 Amewakahiko Soshi scroll
Scroll of the Tale of Amewakahiko
painter: Tosa Hirochika (Japanese, c. 1439-1492)







- reference source : amewakahiko soshi -

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Klassische Weisheiten aus Japan: Mit der Bilderrolle 'Amewakahiko no soshi'
Kurzer, Michael

Beim Büchlein "Klassische Weisheiten aus Japan" handelt es sich um eine äußerst überschaubare Sammlung von japanischen Sprichwörtern, Märchen und poetischen und religiösen Texten. Dazwischen sorgt die Bilderrolle "Amewakahiko no soushi" des Malers Fujiwara Tosa Hirokane für Abwechslung.
source : japaninfo.at/news/buch


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- Reference : 天稚彦 / アメノワカヒコ
- Reference : Amewakahiko


. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

. Tanabata 七夕 The Star Festival .


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- #amewakahiko #amenowakahiko -
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Posted By Gabi Greve to Japan - Shrines and Temples on 6/24/2017 01:28:00 pm

EDO - Kanda Saeki Sakuma district

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. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .
. Persons and People of Edo - Personen .
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Kanda Saekichoo and Sakumachoo　
神田佐柄木町　Saekicho - 神田佐久間町 Sakumacho 　

Kanda 神田 "field for the gods" :
The land was under the directive of Ise Jingu Shrine to grow rice for the Shrine offerings.
Kanda has a lot of sub-districts, see here:
. Kanda 神田 Kanda district .

Here are two sub-districts named after a person who lived there.

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Kanda Saekichoo 神田佐柄木町　Kanda Saeki-cho, Kanda Saekicho

Saeki Yataroo 佐柄木弥太郎 Saeki Yataro
a togishi 研ぎ師 polisher of swords and blades, had his official estate and workshop here and the area was named after him.
Polishing and sharpening sword blades was very important in the times of Samurai. There were different ways to polish a sword, some were the secrets of a family of craftsmen.
Saeki the First had lived in Suruga (Shizuoka) and worked for Tokugawa Ieyasu. After moving to Edo Ieyasu called on Seaki the Second to live in Edo and polish the swords of the Shogun.





. Renjakuchoo, Kanda renjaku machi 神田連雀町 Renjaku-Cho district .

A Kabuki play 矢の根 Ya-no-Ne, Yanone
with the appearance of polishing master Saeki Yataro
『扇恵方曽我 （すえひろえほうそが）』の一幕として上演され、幕府御用の砥物師（とぎものし）togimonoshi 佐柄木弥太郎家

. kenma 研磨 sword polishing - Introduction .



source : ingressmosaik.com/mission

"Until the Kanei peroid (around 1623) adjoining Saeki-Cho and Kiji-Cho was the residence of Lord Hori Tango no Kami. To abbreviate "in front of the residence of the Lord of Tango", people would say "Tanzen".
In this area there were many bathhouses, and also beautiful female bath attendants, and a lot of carousing young men and the like who were learning kabuki in the "Tanzen style".
source : google books - Marcia Yonemoto



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Kanda Sakumachoo 神田 佐久間町 Kanda Sakumacho district　

Sakuma Heihachi 佐久間平八
A zaimoku 材木 timber, lumber merchant, who moved here in 1744 from the Honzaimokucho lumber district.
Soon there settled many lumber merchants and the district was even called
Kanda Zaimoku-Cho　神田材木町　Lumber district of Kanda


The district has four sub-districts along the Kanda river.
There were often huge fires in this district, and people even called it (with a sad pun in mind)
Akuma Cho 悪魔町 - アクマ町 "the Devil"s district".
The storing place for timber and lumber was therefore moved from Sakumacho to 深川猟師町 Fukagawa Ryoshi-cho, and then on to 猿江 Sarue and on to 木場 Kiba.




. Edo, Kiba Lumberyards and Carpenters .
- 本材木町 Honzaimokucho, Honzaimoku-cho lumber district
- The Lumber Industry in Early Modern Japan

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江戸神田佐久間町の大火 Great fire in Sakumacho 1829


source : lib.iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ono_collection

- Text:
神田さくま町かしより出火折しも西北の風はけしく土手下へ飛火御もミくら近辺町家平一めんと成る塩とめニて焼止る其節人々東西にまよひ親にわかれ子にはなれけむりにとりまかれ人々多く死す誠ニあわれの事とも也右之画図見るにつけても火の用心可被成候御屋敷町家ヲよこたてを諸々つもり凡七十二里■■（［虫喰］）もなるべし蔵のかず凡千百五十戸まいの余凡はし■■（［虫喰］）大はし小はしとも二百余おちる.

The strong North-West-Wind on April 24 fanned the fire and more than 2800 people lost their lives.
More than 370000 homes were lost.

In March 1834 another fire, the 甲午火事 Kogo fire started in Sakuma, and more than 4000 people lost their lives.



source : bo-sai.co.jp/kantodaisinsaikiseki


防火守護の地　Bosai Shugo no Chi
A memorial stone for all the brave people who protect the city form fires.
In the 和泉公園 Izumi park.


. taika 江戸の大火 Edo no Taika "Great Fires of Edo" .

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Sakuma Tenmondai 佐久間天文台 Sakuma observatory
Sakuma no Sokuryoosho 佐久間町の測量所 Sokuryosho surveying office
神田佐久間町2丁目


source : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/scganishii

It was set up on order of Shogun Yoshimune in 1746 and used for 13 years. The place had been used as an empty space to prevent the spreading of fires.
The building was placed on an artificial hill.

. tenmondai 天文台　Edo observatories .


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Kanda-Sakumachō (神田佐久間町)
This district is located on the northeastern part on Chiyoda Ward. Kanda-Sakumachō 1-chōme borders Kanda-Hanaokachō and Kanda-Matsunagachō, and the district's 2 - to 4-chōme border Kanda-Izumichō on the north. The district borders Asakusabashi, Taitō, and Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda on the east. The district's 1-chōme borders (across Kanda River) Kanda-Sudachō and Kanda-Iwamotochō, and its 2- to 4-chōme border Kanda-Sakumagashi on the south. The district borders Soto-Kanda on the west. Kanda-Hirakawachō is located between Kanda-Sakumachō 1-chōme and 2-chōme.

Sakumagashi (佐久間河岸), officially Kanda-Sakumagashi (神田佐久間河岸)
This district is located on the northeastern part of Chiyoda Ward. It borders Kanda-Sakumachō on the north, (across Mikura Bridge) Higashi-Kanda 3-chōme on the east, (across Kanda River) Iwamotochō 3-chōme and Higashi-Kanda 2-chōme on the south, and (across Izumi Bridge of Shōwa-dōri Avenue) Kanda-Sakumachō 1-chōme on the west.
source : wikipedia



source : bo-sai.co.jp/kantodaisinsaikiseki


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. Persons and People of Edo - Personen .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Posted By Gabi Greve to Edo - the EDOPEDIA - on 6/24/2017 09:36:00 am

MINGEI - Yakusugi art Kagoshima

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. Kagoshima Folk Art - 鹿児島県　 - Introduction .
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yakusugi 屋久杉 cedar from Yakushima island


縄文杉 Jomon Sugi

quote
Yakusugi 屋久杉
is a Japanese cedar that grows on the mountain 500 metres above sea level. The term "Yakusugi" refers to trees that are more than 1,000 years old. Those less than 1,000 years are called "kosugi." (lit. small Japanese cedar)'. The Japanese cedars in Yakushima may also be referred to as "jisugi" (literally: "locally grown cedars")', but this also encompasses the kosugi, and is a regional dialect.
In general,
the Japanese cedar lives for about 500 years, but Yakusugi lives much longer. Yakusugi that grows on less nutritious granite grows slowly and is grained very tightly. It contains much resin due to Yakushima's high rainfall and high humidity, making it harder to rot. As a result, these trees tend to have longer lives, and many larger trees have been around for more than 2,000 years. Famous examples include the Jōmon-sugi, Kigen-sugi and Wilson stumps, named for their discoverer.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Daruma made from Yakusugi, Cedar from Yakushima





- Check this page for more items made by Yakusugi-Do : 屋久杉堂
source :　yakusugido.com


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Yakusugi ningyoo 屋久杉人形 dolls from Yakushima cedar

Usually a pair, with a ring around each head.






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Yakusugi mingei kogei　屋久杉民芸　工芸品 Yakusugi handicrafts



- quote -
Yakusugi cedar is a world-heritage-designated tree that grows on Yakushima Island. The title Yakusugi only applies to trees that are more than 1,000 years old—those under 1,000 years old are called kosugi, or small cedars.

Yakushima Island has a very harsh environment, where the local saying goes that "it rains 35 days a month." Many typhoons pass through the area as well. The island's soil is also granite-based, with extremely low nutritional content. Yakusugi cedars that have survived under these conditions accumulate rich quantities of resin, and develop a fine-grained quality.

This precious wood is used to make Kagoshima Prefecture's Yakusugi cedar handicrafts. However, lumbering of Yakusugi cedar has been banned since 2001, meaning all modern handicrafts are produced using deadfall and leftover stock from previous periods of history.

Yakusugi cedars were offered in the form of taxes from the Edo Period (1603-1868), and though they were lumbered in large quantities at the time, only the highest quality trees were actually transported to the mainland. The numerous leftover trees were called domai-boku, or trees buried in the soil, and they have been preserved in their natural forms for 200 years thanks to their high resin content. Further, as Yakusugi cedars grow on thin soil above granite, many are felled by typhoons and strong winds, meaning fallen branches and stumps from Yakusugi cedars can be found in great quantities.

Yakusugi cedar handicrafts represent a means of making use of these already-available resources. The resin-rich quality of the wood not only prevents decay, but as it gives off a beautiful gloss the more it's used, it is a choice material for general woodwork as well.

With the wood's age and its growing scarcity due to the lumbering ban, it's becoming a growing luxury—a natural material with multifarious shapes and grains that are uniquely attained from the severe environment of Yakushima Island.

Yakusugi handicrafts include everything from furniture to chopsticks, artwork and accessories. They all emit a beautiful gloss and have a classical Japanese quality, sure to only become rarer as time goes on.
- Kagoshima Products Association
- source : japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts -



- baby. com. do -


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. . . CLICK here for Photos !
. Reference : yakusugi handicraft .

. gangu 玩具　伝説, omochcha おもちゃ toy, toys and legends .
- Introduction -

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

................................................................................. Yakushima Island 屋久島

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hitodama 人玉 spirit of a dead person, "soul flame"

屋久島では、人玉は丸い火に尾がついたもので、すーっと飛んでははちょっと退き、また飛んでは退くというふうに進む。

. Ikiryō, or shōryō, seirei, ikisudama (生霊, lit. "living ghost") .

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oniko 鬼鼓 demon drum

In the 10th lunar month the Gods are off to Izumo, so thy are not on the island. Therefore the Akuma 悪魔 devil, demon dominates the place.
The Akuma likes to hit the 太鼓 huge drum and a strange sound like doon dooon can be heard.


- Design. Koorintei Hyousen 2008 -

There is also a drum festival on Yakushima 屋久島天鼓祭, Tenkosai.

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ryuuoo 竜王 Ryu-O Dragon King

種子島、屋久島、三島などでは消極的な信仰が見られる。トカラ列島では「竜」のつく神詞はないが、乙姫神社が存在し、巫女のネーシ（内侍）の祝詞の中にリュウグウノカミが出てくる。

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

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- - - - - Haiku and Senryu - - - - -


縄文杉語り出したる列島譚
妹尾健 Seno Ken


生御魂縄文杉を称へけり
石河義介


空見えぬ縄文杉を落つる瀧
梶山千鶴子


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Yakushima 屋久島 Yakushima island
is one of the Ōsumi Islands belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The island, 504.88 km2 (194.94 sq mi) in area, has a population of 13,178. Access to the island is by hydrofoil ferry (7 or 8 times a day from Kagoshima, depending on the season), slow car ferry (once or twice a day from Kagoshima), or by air to Yakushima Airport (3 to 5 times daily from Kagoshima, once daily from Fukuoka and once daily from Osaka). Administratively, the whole island is the town of Yakushima. The town also serves neighbouring Kuchinoerabujima. The majority of the island is within the borders of the Kirishima-Yaku National Park.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Posted By Gabi Greve to Omamori - Japanese Amulets on 6/10/2017 01:29:00 pm