Edo Period Senryu 'Haifu Yanagidaru' Part 2 ② People and People, the Same Path Then and Now

Edo Senryu selected by Karai Senryu.
Prostitution was established as a business, and places like Yoshiwara were social venues for men who had stepped away from the class-based society. Regardless of gender, commoners were open-minded about sexuality. Even though adultery was a capital crime, in reality, people often let things slide or got divorced. Ukiyo-e also includes many shunga, which are erotic pictures that served as sexual primers for women. That was also part of Edo culture.

338 Nursing the child and shaking her head at her husband Exciting, exciting
While nursing her young child to sleep, she shakes her head at her husband, saying, "Not yet, not yet." Since the theme is "exciting," perhaps something exciting is waiting once the child falls asleep.

350 A wife who is dangerous until they are both gray-haired Exciting, exciting
"Both gray-haired" means staying together until the couple grows old. It says that such a wife is a bit dangerous. And the theme here is, once again, "exciting." If she is a dangerous wife while being excited, it means the wife is the one getting excited. It predicts that the wife's infidelity might be the cause. Although it is said that adultery is punishable by death, it seems there was quite a bit of infidelity.

382 A dyer comes to deliver after the divorce letter How painful, how painful
A "divorce letter" is a "mikudari-han" (three-and-a-half-line letter). Whether it was due to infidelity or something else, after the divorce and the wife was gone, a dyer came to deliver the wife's dyed goods. That is called "painful." As the term "mikudari-han" is common, it seems divorces were frequent.

366 A bald head rubs out a good idea Created, created
When rubbing a bald head, a good idea popped up. It says that an idea was born from a bald head.
"Baldness" was rare in the old days when life expectancy was short, as people died before they could go bald. Baldness was a sign of longevity. Such elders possessed wisdom. They were respected. Buddhist monks also intentionally shaved their heads to be bald. It was an Edo era where discrimination against and respect for "baldness" coexisted.

425 What a dependent says in their sleep is the truth How regrettable, how regrettable
A "dependent" is a freeloader. Living in someone else's house and constantly being careful, they only speak their true feelings in their sleep.

429 Looking into the pot as the student returns Inviting, inviting
It seems Terakoya (temple schools) ended at 2 PM. A child who went to study, returns hungry and looks into the pot. Just like today's children who return from cram school and look into the refrigerator.

437 Even after sending off the grumbler, it has been half an hour Endured, endured
After listening to complaints for a long time and finally sending them off, half an hour (nearly an hour) had passed.

523 Reached the age where people around me make a fuss Endured, endured
A poem about reaching the age where people around you make a fuss, asking, "Aren't you married yet?" Nowadays, saying such things would be sexual harassment. It is the first item on the list of precautions against sexual harassment. I don't hear the term "marriageable age" much anymore, and there is no such thing as "divorce because there are no children." This is a story from an era where people lived in groups, not as individuals.

552 Mother is just wishing for a quick passing How diligent, how diligent
"Quick passing" refers to a "kokkuri ojo," a sudden, painless death. I have reached an age where I think for myself that perhaps that is the best thing for me and those around me.

597 Looking at the lines on the hand, one complaint is made Encouraging, encouraging
A fortune teller reading palms. First, they make a complaint. "Oh, this is serious." "This much is free, but if you want to hear more, the fee is..." That is how business is done.

622 The shakuhachi makes the chest startle, oh, a new household Visible and hidden, visible and hidden
The shakuhachi was played by Komuso monks as they went from house to house begging for alms. A "new household" is a newlywed home. A house with just the couple. The newlyweds are startled because they sensed someone in front of the house. There was such an era. I wonder what they were doing. Maybe they were playing the shakuhachi inside the house too.
Now that it has become a bit erotic, ...it seems the time is up.