民家日用 広益秘事大全
嘉永４年（1851）版
三松館主人編
江戸時代の庶民の、家事や医療、園芸、暦や占い、はては家を建てるときの心得など、暮らしのさまざまなことに役立つ知識を集めた「暮らし便利帳」のような本です。
出版されたのは、嘉永4年（１８５１）年、作者は大坂に住む「三松館(さんしょうかん)主人」という人で、その素性はわかりませんが、序文によりますと、「海辺の漁村は便利で暮らしも豊かだが、山村は不便で貧しい。医者もおらず、田舎の人が物を知らないことをよいことに、だます輩もいる。こうした人たちの役に立つように、弟子たちにさまざまな知識を集めさせて出版した」とあります。
このように、口上はいかにもしかつめらしい本ですが、実際に読んでみると、当時の庶民の生活に密着した、さまざまな困りごとや欲求がわかる、とても楽しい本です。
あせもやしもやけの薬、血止めの方法、魚の骨が喉に刺さったときの薬、髪の毛が生える薬、酒癖が悪いのを治す薬、といった現代でも役立ちそうなものもあります。
一方で、雨風が当たっても消えない松明(たいまつ)を作る方法、蛙が鳴いてうるさいときに止める呪い、道を歩いても狐やタヌキを近寄らせない呪い、切腹を失敗してしまったときの介抱の方法、といった江戸時代ならではの珍しい知識もあります。
例えば、牛や馬に噛まれたときの対処法。「まず、急いで灰を熱い湯の中に入れて、かまれた部分を浸す。もし、腫れていたら、あぶった石を押し当てよ。また、白砂糖や鶏のトサカの血を塗るのも良い」とあります。
それから、「大酒を飲んでも酔わない方法」という方法もあります。「極上の美濃柿を薄く切り、へそにあてて酒をのむべし。どれだけ飲んでも酔わない」とあります。
さて、効き目の程はいかがでしょうか。
Compilation of Useful but Untaught Details for Daily Life
Published: The 4th year of Kaei (1851)
Writer: the master of Sanshokan
This book called, “Helpful Living Journal” is a compilation of various knowledge from the people in the Edo era such as homemaking, medical care, gardening, the calendar, fortune-telling and useful points when building a house.
It was published in the 4th year of Kaei (1851) by “the master of Sanshokan” who lived in Osaka. His background is unknown. According to the preface, “The seaside fishing village is convenient and the living is rich as well, but the mountain village is inconvenient and poor. There is no doctor and as people in the countryside are unknowledgeable, there are those who would deceive them. In order to help the locals, the master of Sanshokan directed his followers to collect various knowledge and publish it.”
The above statements sound heavy, but upon reading, we find the book is a fun description of the various troubles and needs in the daily lives of the people of the time.
For example: Medicine for heat rashes and frostbite, methods to stop bleeding, medicine for when a fishbone is stuck in one’s throat, medicine for hair re-growth, medicine to calm moodiness and belligerence when drunk, as well as others which still seem useful today.
On the other hand, there are bits of knowledge which was particularly useful for people in the Edo era such as: Methods for making torches which will remain lit even in wind or rain, spells for quieting noisy frogs, spells to keep away tricksters like foxes and raccoon dogs when walking, methods to take care of people who have failed at hara-kiri.
Here are some examples. The first is how to care when bitten by a cow or a horse. “First, quickly put ash into hot water. Soak the bitten part. If it is swollen, place a heated stone on it. Spreading sugar or the blood from the cockscomb of a chicken on the swelling is also effective.”
Next, here is a method to avoid getting drunk no matter how much liquor someone drinks. “Thinly slice an expensive persimmon known as a Minogaki and place it on your navel while drinking. No matter how much you drink you will not get drunk.”
So, do you think it will work?
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