[Craftsman Encyclopedia] Colored Craftsman Categories (24) Umbrellas (Karakasa)
□
The 'Natural History' says, 'Emperor Shenyuan of Wei first made □ '
'Kokin Wakashu'
Misafurai mikasa tomouse Miyagino no
Ki no shita tsuyu wa ame ni masareri
* The kanji for '□' is 傘 (umbrella).
* 'Emperor Shenyuan of Wei' refers to the founder of Northern Wei, Emperor Shenyuan.
* 'Misafurai mikasa tomouse' means 'Please tell the attendant to bring an umbrella.' It is a phrase meaning, 'Attendant, please tell (your master) to take an umbrella.'
In the third year of Bunroku, a merchant from Sakai in Izumi Province named Naya Sukezaemon returned from Luzon. At that time, he presented a thousand umbrellas and a thousand candles each.
It is said that these are the umbrellas used today.
* 'Izumi Province' is Izumi no Kuni.
* 'Naya Sukezaemon' was a merchant in Sakai during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He traveled to Luzon and presented umbrellas, candles, and jars he brought back to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Also known as LuzonSukezaemon or Uoya Sukezaemon.
About Umbrellas
The theory recorded in 'Colored Craftsman Categories' that 'Emperor Shenyuan of Wei first made umbrellas' and the theory that NayaSukezaemon brought them back from Luzon are both published in the Edo-period encyclopedia 'Wakan Sansai Zue'.
On the other hand, there is also a theory that umbrellas existed in Japan even before Naya Sukezaemon brought them back. Additionally, in the 'Sarashina Nikki' written in the mid-Heian period, there is a description that says, 'An umbrella was set up in front of the hermitage.'
Although there is a theory that during the Tensho era, the Sakai merchant Naya Sukezaemon traveled to Luzon and returned in the third year of Bunroku, introducing umbrellas and candles for the first time, these two items have already existed in our country since ancient times.
Reference: 'Ruiju Meibutsu Ko, Volume 5 ('Umbrella')', 'Sarashina Nikki: Annotated' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
About Luzon (Luzon)
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections 'Wakan Sansai Zue, Volume 2'
'Luzon' can be seen to the south of Taiwan.
Chishi Ryaku, Volume 1, General Overview of Asia, General Overview of Japan, Five Provinces of Kinai'
“Geography of the Whole World, Part 1, Volume 1”
|Regarding Naya| Sukezaemon
Ruson Sukezaemon
The name Ruson Sukezaemon is the name that the wealthy merchant of Sakai-ura, Uoya Sukezaemon, gave himself after he attacked and conquered Luzon and returned in triumph to our country. His family had traded with foreign countries for generations, and his household was extremely wealthy.
Sukezaemon, naturally bold and brave, once sighed with deep emotion and said,
“At present, heroes are carving out territories in all directions; the strong are annexing the weak, and the large are swallowing the small. The country is divided, and the people have no constant master. How can a great man be content to be confined and submit to the control of others? I would rather sail far overseas, raise my martial prowess, and make my might felt.”
Thus, with over a hundred reckless and brave men, he gathered weapons, crossed the sea, and attacked Luzon. Luzon, whose military power was extremely weak at the time, could not hold out. The leaders frequently begged for peace and offered a vast amount of their treasures and rare products as bribes. Upon this, Sukezaemon accepted their request, reported it, and withdrew his troops. This was truly on the 20th day of the seventh month of the third year of Bunroku.
From this time on, the prestige of Ruson Sukezaemon shook the near and far, and his wealth doubled from the previous day. Sukezaemon, through the Sakai magistrate Ishida Masazumi, presented to Hideyoshi a thousand candles and two musk cats obtained in Luzon, and also offered fifty true jars for his inspection. Hideyoshi was greatly pleased, had them displayed in the great hall of the West Wing, consulted with Sen no Sōeki, divided the jars into three grades, and invited the feudal lords to purchase them. In a few days, they were all gone, with only three remaining. Hideyoshi kept them himself and had Sukezaemon collect the payments from the feudal lords. With this, Sukezaemon was able to enjoy huge profits once again.
Later, the lord of Shiki Castle, Matsunaga Hisahide, tried to hire him with a stipend of 3,000 koku. He did not respond. One day, Hisahide visited Sukezaemon's house, saw its magnificent architecture, and sighed, saying, “It is perfect in goodness, it is perfect in beauty.” He then drew his sword, slashed one of the pillars, and said slowly to Sukezaemon,
“When water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes. Is this not the way of fate? Therefore, for the sake of your descendants, I have intentionally marred this one pillar to pray for its continued perfection.”
Sukezaemon later disobeyed an order from Hideyoshi. Eventually, he met his downfall.
※ Reference: “Japanese in the World, Expanded Edition (Ruson Sukezaemon Invades Luzon)”, “Sakai Historical Talks”, “On Ships”, “History of Japanese Culture, Vol. 9”, “History of Japanese Civilization” (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered, and □ indicates kanji that cannot be displayed on a computer. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos and misreadings. For details, please read “Self-Introduction / Disclaimer”. 📖