[Whaling in Ikitsuki] Isana-tori Ekotoba (4) Ikitsuki Misakiura Whale Towing and Hauling Illustration
"Isana-tori Ekotoba" (Whale Hunting Picture Scroll) is a book that records the state of whaling on Ikitsuki Island in Matsuura District, Hizen Province, during the late Edo period. I would like to steadily read through the "Isana-tori Ekotoba (Three Volumes in Total)" housed in the National Diet Library Digital Collections. It is a work with very beautiful illustrations and text.
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Ikitsuki Misakiura Whale Towing and Hauling Illustration
The sight of catching a whale in the open sea, sandwiching and tethering it between two holding boats, and having numerous towing boats with flags raised on their bows line up in two rows to bring it into Misakiura is a truly pleasant sight to behold. Meanwhile, when another whale is spotted, the mountain lookout raises the usual straw mat signal, waves a signal flag, or perhaps sends up smoke as a signal. Seeing this, the harpooners and boats divide their tasks, keeping their eyes on the newly arrived whale, and pursue it.
※ "圖" means illustration or diagram.
※ "Imaki" means newly arrived or a newly arrived person.
The holding boats sandwiching and tethering the whale gradually row closer. As they approach Misakiura, they raise their oar calls, and hearing the clamor, the people at the warehouse area, hundreds of them, shout "Have you caught it?" while beating drums and joining their voices. Soon, they launch tenma boats to receive it. The offshore watchmen, equipped with fish-cutting tools and solemnly lining up large knives, go out about two or three cho into the open sea to receive the whale. With the escort boats handling various tasks, they pull it to the shore. After the whale is pulled in this way, the sea surface is dyed with blood, turning crimson, and countless kites, crows, gulls, and "rai-no-tori" (a type of bird) flock to it, as seen in the "Shoji Hyakushu" and other works.
※ "Tenma-bune" refers to a small boat used for ferrying cargo between the main ship and the shore.
※ "Shoji Hyakushu" reference: "Shoji Go-hyakushu" (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive)
The "rai" bird loves whales very much, following them from far out in the open sea. When the whale is cut and butchered on the shore, it eats about four or five kin of meat at a time. However, the fishermen call it "Ebisu" and cherish it, so no matter how much meat it eats, they never chase it away. After all, is the name "rai-no-tori" (thunder bird) perhaps a name given to signify that a whale is coming?
※ "Chouai" means to cherish and treat with affection.
※ "Koshi no Hakusan" is thought to refer to the snowy mountains of Echigo and Echizen.
※ "Gyosei" is thought to refer to an imperial poem.
There is also a "rai-no-tori" on Mt. Hakusan in Koshi, and Emperor Go-Toba composed an imperial poem: Beneath the shade of the pines on Mt. Shira, hiding away, how peacefully the rai-no-tori dwells. Is the bird of Hakusan related to the types of birds called "shokei" or "raibu" in China? The bird that loves whales today is an albatross (see "Tenseki Benran" and "Komaso Zappitsu"), which is different.
※ "Shinten-o" refers to an albatross. Reference: "Koei Eiwa Jiten", "Hakubutsu Kyojuhou: Mombusho Shinkan Shogaku Kenzu Vol. 2 Animals", "Hakubutsu Mondo", "Hakubutsu Zuryaku-kai Vol. 2", "Fuon Satsuzu Eiwa Jii" (National Diet Library Digital Collections).
※ "Tenseki Benran" is a book from the Ming Dynasty. "Tenseki Benran", "Tenseki Benran" (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive).
※ "Komaso Zappitsu" reference: "Komaso Zappitsu" (National Archives of Japan Digital Archive)
* Reference: "Complete Collection of Japanese Scientific Classics, Vol. 11, Part 3 (Ikitsuki Misakiura Whale Hanging and Rowing-in Illustration)" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered. I will update this as new characters are deciphered or if I notice any typos or misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" section. 📖