a collection of thoughts and ideas from a lifelong learner
Glossary of Terms for Studying Aizu Wakamatsu's History
Aizu 会津
original meaning – two gods met (会) by a river (津) in Aizu Takada
Aizu Clan 会津藩
Katamori Matsudaira (松平容保) [1834-1893] was the lord (daimyo – 大名) of the Aizu Clan
they were opposed to the Meiji Restoration and fought against the emperor’s forces in the Boshin Civil War
Boshin Civil War 戊辰戦争 [1868-1869]
Jan 27th 1868 to Jun 27th 1869 (last stronghold – Hakodate in Hokkaido – fell)
Meiji Restoration (明治維新) trying to unify Japan
some areas were fighting back, but many just accepted the new situation
Aizu was the last stronghold of the samurai way of life
Aizu clan fought against the anti-shogunate troops
Bukeyashiki 武家屋敷
residence of the samurai of Edo period (17th-19th century)
seven acres, 38 rooms
original buildings were burned 130 years ago during the Boshin civil war, rebuilt 20 years ago
took two years to rebuild
rooms have been decorated in Edo period style
lavatory has surface area close to 55 square feet
rice cleaning mill – 180 years old, brought from Shirakawa, water powered, has 16 stone mills, can pound 960kg of rice per day
kitchen has strong cross beams to support heavy snowfall
gyakubyobu (逆屏風) – the byobu (or screen painting) is placed upside-down to show that their has been a death in the family
while one retainer (Tanomo Saigo) went to battle, his wife and children killed themselves
papers on the wall or pillar—When people come here for sightseeing, they put the paper which has their names on the wall as a good luck charm or just in memory.
Inro—a case to keep an Inkan (stamp) or medicine. Rich people used to keep it in their pocket, and usually they had a stopper called “ “
money at the rice cleaning mill—Japanese people have a habit of making a monetary offering at shrines for the good luck. People visiting here offer money for praying the good harvest.
Nakahata Shrine – moved from Nakahata village, Gunjiro Matsudaira (judge) lived there, designated as important piece of cultural property
Chanoyu – tea ceremony – not pastime, but aesthetic ritual, follows rules set by Sen-no-Rikyu, his son, Shoan introduced the tea ceremony to Aizu, he built Rinkaku at Tsurugajo
Bushidou 武士道
way of the warrior
martial spirit, skill with weapons, absolute loyalty to one’s lord, strong sense of personal honour, devotion to duty, courage to sacrifice one’s life in battle or ritual suicide
was actually mostly developed in times of peace – warriors had very little to do but practice their “way” when the rulers took most of the powers away from them
martial aspects of bushido became popular during militaristic 1930’s, but then fell into disfavour after the war (WWII)
Byakkotai 白虎隊
20 young men (16-17 years old [Japanese counting], 15-16 years old [Western counting]) who studied Bushido (see below) at Aizu Nisshinkan (会津日新館)
irony – Bushido teaches obedience to superiors, but Byakkotai were involved in a civil war, which is the exact opposite of obedience
were fighting off in Inawashiro (猪苗代町), but were losing
escaped through cave to Iimoriyama (飯盛山)
looked over Aizu to see the Tsurugajo (鶴ヶ城、若松城) in flames
if the castle fell, it meant the end of the Aizu Clan (会津藩)
rather than risk having to humble themselves before a new master, (and also to show their loyalty to the Aizu Clan) they killed themselves (1868)
in fact, the castle was not burning and the war raged on
when they reached Niigata, they had travelled 246 miles from Tokyo
continued to travel to Aomori via Yamagata, Shinjo, Yokote, and Kubota – covering 373 miles
visited villages of Ainu, where she closely observed the aborigines life and customs
took a ship called the Hyogo-maru back to Yokohama
whole journey lasted three months
wrote book – “A Trip to Japan’s Hinterland”, in which she described her visits to small towns, etc.
she visited Japan 5 more times between 1894 and 1896
Daimyo 大名
leader of local area (i.e. Aizu)
Fujinbutai 婦人部隊
group of female fighters during Boshin Civil War
Gamo Ujisato
ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (shogun) to move to Aizu to rebuilt the castle and organize the city
protected the area from Date, who was Toyotomi’s enemy in Sendai
introduced culture to Aizu — lacquerware
rebuilt the castle as a seven storey building which resembled a crane in flight (current castle is 5 storeys)
Iimoriyama 飯盛山
markers at base – for horses
place where the Byakkotai came after losing a battle in Inawashiro
many markers donated to show support of Byakkotai and their samurai spirit
one marker from Italian government — axe removed from claw of bird
Iinuma Sadakichi 飯沼貞吉 [1853-1931]
Iinuma was the one Byakkotai who survived to tell the tale
his hand was injured, so he couldn’t complete the seppuku
Jinbo Shuuri 神保修理 [1838-1868]
samurai, against war – was killed due to his opposition to Aizu’s stance on Boshin Civil War
Karou 家老
advisor to the daimyo, elder
Kayano Gonbei 萱野権兵衛 [1830-1869]
karou, during Boshin Civil War
Komei Tennou 孝明天皇
Emperor before Meiji
Kumitate 組み立て
style of construction in which no nails are used (e.g. Sazaedo)
Matsudaira Katamori 松平容保 [1834-1893]
Daimyo during Boshin Civil War
adopted by Matsudaira family
Meiji Restoration 明治維新 [1868-1912]
January 3 1868 to July 30 1912
restoring imperial rule
Meiji Tennou 明治天皇 [1852-1912]
Meiji Emperor, opposed Tokugawa shogunate
Nakano Takeko 中野竹子 [1846-1868]
one of Fujinbutai, died during Boshin Civil War
Sagawa Kanbei 佐川官兵衛 [1831-1877]
samurai, was for fighting during Boshin Civil War
Saigou Tanomo 西郷頼母 [1803-1905]
karou, originally against fighting in Boshin Civil War, resigned, succeeded by Kayano
Sazaedo さざえ堂、栄螺堂 [1796~, 1889~present]
built in 1700s
fell into disrepair during Meiji restoration
rebuilt with support of local citizens
sazae = turban shell
shaped like double helix
philosophy – if you can’t climb a mountain, do a pilgrimage, then climb Sazaedo (similar to placing a rock on top of a rock to symbolize building a temple)
33 images of Kannon (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy)
16 metres tall
no nails used in construction – kumitate style of construction (組み立て)
Samurai 侍
member of the ruling class, originally warriors
bound by Bushidou during Edo period
Seppuku 切腹
ritual suicide by self-disembowelment
also called harakiri (腹切), but that is too direct for most Japanese
abdomen was chosen because ancient Japanese believed that it was the place where the soul resided and the source of action-derived tension, cradle of the individual’s will, boldness, spirit, anger, generosity
became very ritualized
apparel, site, time, witnesses, inspectors, assistant
open kimono, stretch out right hand to grasp knife, cut into abdomen from left to right
this wound was often not deep, and not intended to kill
prearranged signal to assistant would tell assistant to sever head
one of the 5 grades of punishment among samurai class
Shougun 将軍
military leader of the daimyo and all of Japan (until Meiji Restoration)
Tennou 天皇
emperor
Tokugawa Yoshinobu 徳川慶喜 [1837- ]
last Shogun
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Shogun who ordered Gamo Ujisato to rebuild Tsurugajo and to protect the area from Sendai’s Date family which was Toyotomi’s enemy
Tsurugajo 鶴ヶ城 [1384-, 1590-, -1874, 1965-present]
Daimyo Residence
most castles in Japan are reproductions of the originals which were destroyed in battle or in restorations
Tsurugajo was rebuilt in 1965 after being destroyed in 1874
Displays
1st floor – tomb-period excavations (4th to 7th centuries) and Buddhist materials
2nd floor – antique lacquerware and pottery
3rd & 4th floors – Boshin War items, Byakkotai displays
5th floor – observatory
Southern wing – folk materials
corridor bridge (Red bridge) – so as not to let very many enemies attack, legend — bridge was originally built so that pulling any one board out of it made the whole thing collapse
suit of armor and a helmet – made of iron, covered with lacquer. At the front of the helmets, they have the symbol of their groups.
a sword guard – the protection for the sword, craftsmen carved beautiful patterns on it
Akabeko (赤べこ) – a famous souvenir of Aizu, red is believed to be a lucky colour, idea apparently comes from “red cows” that were needed to move the big stones to make the castle
