[Onna Daigaku Takarabako (Treasure Box of Women's Education) - Ekiken Kaibara] (1) Rice Cultivation
From ancient times to the present, the sustenance of people begins with the agricultural work of the farmers. Among the five grains, rice is considered the most important. Therefore, from the time the rice seeds are sown in the spring and the seedbeds are prepared, the fields are plowed, and when the fifth month arrives, the seedlings that have grown in the seedbeds are separated and carried to our own fields.
* "Tei" refers to the appearance or state of something.
The rice-planting women receive them and sing songs delightfully:
Even a thousand cho of fields are planted,
The handiwork of women is never-ending,
Lying down in the rainy season without a break,
Both hats and sleeves are soaked through.
The surface of the fields adds a shade of green, and the prosperity of the people can be seen everywhere.
* "Sencho" refers to a vast rice field. A thousand-cho field.
From here, when the water month arrives, the seedlings have grown somewhat, and leaves grow among the fields. Because the rice grows thick, they all stand up, and with their heads illuminated by the sun, they are submerged in mud up to their waists, making weeding a painful task. This is done until the first, second, and third weeding are completed.
* "Fusaku yue" might be a misreading.
Or, if the drought continues, the water in the irrigation pond is drawn, and it is scooped up using a throwing bucket. By the eighth month, the early-ripening rice is harvested, and the first fruits are offered to the lord and the gods.
* "Nage-tsurube" is a throwing bucket. A tool where two people hold ropes attached to both ends of a bucket and throw it into the water to scoop it up.
From here, the mid-season and late-season rice are also harvested, the rice ears are threshed, the sound of the flail is rhythmic, and the good grains are gathered as they scatter in the wind from the winnowing basket, then ground in a mortar to become polished rice. The tradition of the endless harvest of the reign is the beginning of the way for the husband and wife of the common people to manage their household, and it begins here.
* "Tanatsumono" refers to grains. It means things harvested from the field. It refers to rice seeds and grains.
* "Tamikusa" is a term that compares the common people to grass.
This shows that the hardships of the people are beyond words, from soaking the seeds to planting, raising, harvesting, and milling. Those who eat without tilling the fields must surely ask about this.
◇
Photo by mominaina
● indicates characters that could not be deciphered. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos and misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" section. 📖