A Basic Study on Falconers of Sendai Han in Japan

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  • Hotta Yukiyoshi
    Faculty of Education, Miyagi University of Education : Associate Professor

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Other Title
  • 仙台藩の鷹匠に関する基礎的研究
  • センダイハン ノ タカジョウ ニ カンスル キソテキ ケンキュウ

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Abstract

There ware the successive lords of the domain in Sendai Han, who were found of hawks and hawking like the founder Masamune. Sendai Han employed a large number of falconers and organized them as one of Kumishi (a group of lower-ranked vassals), which was called Takajo-gumi. However, there are few historical materials of Kumishi, thus it is difficult to develop academic studies on Takajo-gumi. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to make clear an outline of Otakakata which was composed of Takajo-gumi, their superiors and so on, and to arrange essential points on falconers of Sendai. Firstly, I summarize the history about falconers’ ancestors by using Yuisho-gaki (a written document showing the history of a family) of Sendai Han, And I develop an understanding about a falconer until the early modern ages by giving the cases that hawk lovers or a child of a masterless samurai, whose ancestors had not been originally falconers, were newly taken into service of Sendai. Secondly, I investigate Otakakata : the scale, the organization, and the levels of social status. And I also clarify the process how the positioning of falconers in Sendai had been changed since the late 17th century by the influence of Shorui-Awaremi-no-rei (ordinances of animal protection). Finally, I indicate that it was in the 18th century that an occupation as a family business related to hawks or hawking had been established by the order of the domain government. And I add that some falconers who learned Yo-jutsu (skills of hawking or taking care of hawks and so on) from shogunate retainers or feudal retainers of other domains. I also describe how the skills had been inherited by an example of the Sato Family that successively inherited the post of the chief falconer : Toya-Gashira

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