Japanese Falconry in the Edo Period
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
九州大学学術情報リポジトリ Kyushu University Institutional Repository Japanese Falconry in the Edo Period TAKEI, Koichi Faculty of Global and Regional Studies, University of the Ryukyus : Associate Professo https://doi.org/10.15017/4377874 出版情報:鷹・鷹場・環境研究. 5, pp.95-107, 2021-03-20. Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University バージョン: 権利関係: Japanese Falconry in the Edo Period TAKEI, Koichi The Journal of Hawks, Hawking Grounds, and Environment Studies vol.5 MARCH 2021 鷹・鷹場・環境研究 vol.5 2021年3月 Japanese Falconry in the Edo Period TAKEI, Koichi [:W~J :il:f:ffl: S;$:-e,i, ~'\'f'i!'i'.-?:k;j; O);b v 'fc--Z,$!1';J'iJ,~/vf;::f-T:b:h,ko ,,$:fi!ij--Z,,'i, j:;ffI?~JffO)Jf!f'(;O)~'\'f'iji'.tJ,tif Iv tc$!11'-?, -c:h,~ ~ ~ ;t k trJ)i'.f;::-".) v, --c Jl.{;j,:1¥] f;::1m.13J1 L, tea {'J(f;::, :il:f:-Jitf;:: f'i 200 0-J: b O)~iJ,:t3iJ,;n,, ;kq; 0) ibv'fc-ebJ.151'iJ,fr:b:h, --Cv'ko -cO)fYtl c L, --C1JP,j5'.~M83*f;::tt§ L,, 1l~00tcit-e/'itt <, ~i/J~{~-erI?f;:: l'IT:E L, --Cv, .:;;i ibv ,tc-e b rffilfc-e$!11'iJ,f-T:b:h, --Cv ,fc. =. c ~~1r L, tea $!11'~T 01;::,i, M!tcit-e,itt <, $! iJ,tfflJIT 0 ,l~!;tc. t:, b1'.,!l'l, L, --Cv ,tt tt:h,,'itt Gttv 'a -c =. -eM!51'~~ffl,-e~ tdr:l!l: c L, --c, :il:f:ffl:MU§ 0) S _,$::il:f:ffl: W1'.~*iJ"::t!IJl±l ~ :h, --Cv 'k =. c ~13J3 GiJ,f;:: L,ko [Abstract] During the Edo period(l603-1867), falconry (known as takagari in Japan) was actively practiced among the shoguns and daimyos. The first part of this article describes the falconry practices used by the successive shoguns of the Edo shogunate and the institutional system that underpinned them. During The Edo period, JAPAN was divided into more than 200 feudal domains, and the rulers of these domains, the daimyos, also enjoyed falconry. The second part of this article focuses on one of these daimyos: the head of the Maeda clan, who ruled the Kaga Domain. This section introduces the falconry activities that the Maeda clan practiced in its domain, as well as those practiced in its shimo-yashiki (daimyo's residence in the suburbs of Edo) when sojourning in Edo as part of the sankin-kotai (a system that required daimyos to move periodically between Edo and their domains). Falconry requires, in addition to the raptors themselves, stocks of fowl for the raptors to hunt. Hence, the article reveals the ecosystem, unique to the Edo period, that enabled falconry. [Keywords:] falconry, the Edo period, the Shoguns of the Edo, the Maeda clan, ecosystem Introduction Thus, in practicing falconry, Yoshimune (the eighth Edo shogun) was upholding the tradition of his predecessors. His His Highness's pastimes: Falconry and the predecessor, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (the fifth Edo shogunate), suffering ofthe masses 1l effectively banned falconry, but Yoshimune reinstated it prior to assuming the office of shogun in Ky6h6 1 (1716). To that The above is a piece of satires dated to the sixth month of end, he gathered books on Iemitsu and Ietsuna's falconry Ky6h6 7 (1722). The biting satire refers to Tokugawa methods and interviewed takajo (falconers responsible for Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Edo shogunate. rearing and training the raptors) to ascertain how Ietsuna had However, Yoshimune was by no means the only shogun who led falconry trips. Then, to create game preserves, he revived enjoyed falconry, or takagari. the old hunting restrictions in the environs of Edo. Consequently, falconry thrived in the region in May of the The founder of the Edo shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was following year. Thus, the raptors were set loose to hunt in the himself an avid falconer. According to one account, Ieyasu region again for the first time in over 38 years, the last time was already handling falcons in his youth, when he was held being in Enp6 7 (1679), during Ietsuna's reign3l. hostage under Imagawa Yoshimoto, a Sengoku-period daimyo (feudal lord) in the Tokai region. He engaged in the The first part here describes the falconry practices preferred pastime until shortly before his death in Genna 2 (1616) at the by successive shoguns and the institutional system that age of 75. Likewise, the second Edo Shogunate, Tokugawa underpinned them. During the Edo period (1603-1867), Hidetada, frequently went on falconry trips, and the third and Japan was divided into more than 200 feudal domains, and fourth Edo shogunate, Iemitsu and Ietsuna, upheld the the rulers of these domains, the daimyos, also enjoyed tradition2l. falconry. The second part of this article focuses on one of these daimyos: the head of the Maeda clan, which ruled the 95 Kaga domain. Then this article focuses on the falcomy depicted on the screen are probably northern goshawks. The practices of the Maeda clan as an example of such daimyos. three men bearing rods are beaters known as selw. They Falcomy requires that, in addition to the raptors themselves, would beat the bushes to flush the birds from their cover, stocks of fowl for the raptors to hunt should be kept in the exposing them to the raptors. The selw were followed in the area. Hence, the article discusses the kind of natural procession by a band of samurai. environment that was cultivated in the Edo period ecosystem in order to enable falcomy. According to this picture, a falcomy trip involved a regimental procession of the shogun's whole entourage, As the above graffiti insinuates, falcomy had a dark side. implying that falcomy served a purpose of training the Thus, I aim to give an account of the Edo period falcomy that shogun in military organization. A shogun was a samurai covers both its positive and negative aspects. warrior and, as such, was expected to learn the martial arts and engage in military affairs. Falcomy played an important 1. Falconry as Practiced by the Shoguns role in this. However, a shogun was not only a samurai, but also a commander. According to the Edo shogunate chronicle What attracted the shoguns to falconry? Tokugawa Jildd ("Official History of the House of Tokugawa"), the shoguns' interest in falcomy stemmed from A decorative folding screen painting known as the Edo-zu a principle Ieyasu would frequently relate: Byobu depicts Edo and its environs during the years ofKan' ei (1624--44), one of the eras of the Edo period. Much of the Falconry is not just for pleasure. Rather, it is a screen's content focuses on the deeds of Tokugawa Iemitsu chance to venture far from the city walls and (the third of the Edo shogunate). observe the sufferings and customs ofthe common people5l. In other words, falcomy trips gave shoguns a chance to learn the condition of the common people. Gift-giving in falconry The raptors used in falcomy were more than just birds. Since ancient times, they have been symbols of authority and power. Both raptors and game fowl were highly prized as gifts and were offered to, or bestowed by, the emperor and shogun. Falcomy-related gifting practices thrived all the more in the Edoperiod. Fig. I A portion of the Edo-zu Byobu4l An example of such gifting can be seen in the practices of a Most notably, the screen includes many falcomy scenes. daimyo in the early years of the Edo period. The daimyo in Figure 1 shows a scene from the Edo-zu Byobu. The scene question was of the Akita Domain, and he ruled the province depicts a procession of Iemitsu and his entourage going to of Dewa. While the daimyo sojourned in Edo as part of the hunt in Konosu, a location in the province of Musashi, north sankin-kotai (a system that required daimyos to move of Edo. Toward the front of the line are five takajo with periodically between Edo and their domains), the shogun raptors perched on their left arm. Note that I use ''raptors" as a would bestow upon him cranes caught in a falcomy trip. One catch-all term for a variety of birds of prey, including northern account from Genna 8 (1622) reveals how the daimyo goshawks, Eurasian sparrowhawks, Japanese sparrowhawks, responded to such bestowals: "The daimyo visited Edo Castle and peregrine falcons. Judging from their size, the raptors to pay his respects to the shogun. He then hosted a banquet 96 for the shogun's elder councilors and other senior officials. Tsunayoshi, took a different turn. After he became the fifth For the banquet, the crane was carved in a certain manner and shogun, Tsunayoshi discontinued the pastime of his served as a soup dish. The soup was followed by lavish dishes, predecessors. and a Noh performance was staged for the guests, as part of a splendid banquet. The daimyo repeatedly organized such Tsunayoshi famously instituted a series of animal protection extravagant banquets to demonstrate his obedience to the laws known as the Shami Awaremi no Rei, or the "Edicts on shogun." 6J Compassion for Living Things." The edicts are remembered particularly for protecting the welfare of dogs, but canines As the above example illustrates, the shogun's bestowals of were not the only creatures protected The edicts covered all game fowl, such as cranes and swans, held great political living things, including humans. The shogun included weight. Here again, falconry played an important role. The humans in the legislation in response to a societal disregard same was true for the hunting grounds.