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Iwase Bunko Library was established as a private library in Nishio city.
Yasuke Iwase, a wealthy merchant, used his own funds and opened IBL in 1908.
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幼稚遊昔雛形
天保15(1844)年版
万亭応賀著・静斎英一画


 こどもたちの日常的な遊びの、遊び方や囃し歌などを絵入りで描いた本。
 「近頃は子供たちが子供らしく遊び戯れる姿をあまり見なくなった。それどころか品のない流行歌なぞを口ずさんだりして、また親たちもそれをよしとしているから嘆かわしい」。昨今でも耳にしそうな、こんなお小言から始まる『幼稚遊昔雛型』は、天保15(1844)年、流行の読み本作家であった万亭応賀によって出版された、江戸時代の子供の遊びを紹介する本です。
作者の応賀は、子供たちの健やかな成長は昔ながらの素朴な遊びによって育まれると考え、こういう遊びをしなさいと、自分が子供の頃に行っていた遊び75種を詳しく解説しています。中にはわたくしたちもやったおぼえのある遊びもあれば、今ではすっかり失われてしまい、「へえ、こんな遊びがあったのか!」と思うようなものもあり、読んでいて大変楽しい資料です。
 全項目にわたって、浮世絵師の静斎英一によって描かれた愛らしい挿絵が添えられており、遊び興じる子供たちの歓声までもがいきいきとよみがえるようです。また、当時の子供たちの髪型の一覧も載せられており、風俗資料としても一級品です。
 微笑ましいだけがこの本の魅力ではありません。所々に見られる作者のパンチの効いたコメントがまたおかしいのです。例えば「あんよは上手」。よちよち歩きの幼子を「ここまでおいで。甘酒しんじょ」と歩ませるのですが、ついぞ甘酒を与えたためしはない、これが親が子に嘘をつく最初のケースである、とこうです。
 年中行事にともなう遊びの考証や伝統芸能・遊戯の記録などは他にもありますが、この本のように江戸時代の子供たちの日常的な遊びを知ることのできる資料は極めて稀です。さらにこの『幼稚遊昔雛形』は、その当時はたくさん出版されたのでしょうけれども、現在では岩瀬文庫が所蔵しているこれ1点きりしか残っておらず、そういった意味でも大変貴重な資料です。


Models of Children’s Play in the Old Days
The 15th year of Tenpo (1844)
Oga Mantei, Artist: Eiichi Seisai

 This is an illustrated book of songs, daily games of children, how to play them and so on. “Recently, children playing childlike games are not often seen. On the contrary, they sing popular vulgar songs and the fact their parents have no trouble with this is disappointing.” Models of Children’s Play in the Old Days, which begins with a scolding of this kind that you may hear even nowadays, was published in the 15th year of Tenpo (1844) by Oga Mantei, who was a popular writer. It is a book to introduce the play-style of children of the Edo era. Oga thinks the plain old play-style of earlier days promoted the healthy growth of children. There are detailed explanations of 75 ways in which Oga himself played as a child and recommends. Inside are ways which we may remember playing as well as some that are completely lost now and may cause us to think, “Oh! Was there really this kind of game?” It is a very pleasant read.
 Each game is depicted in a lovely illustration by ukiyoe artist Eiichi Seisai. You can almost hear the shouts of joy from the children absorbed in play. In addition, there is a list of the hairstyles of children of the time so this is a valuable resource of manners and customs.
 The heartwarming nature of this book is not its most appealing point. The author’s strict comments placed here and there are very amusing. Here is an example, “Good baby steps”. Say, “Come here” to the wobbling toddler. “If you get here, I’ll give you sweet sake.” Then, let them walk. However, no one would ever really give alcohol and so the author comments that this becomes the first time a parent tells their child a lie.
 Other books are historical records of traditional customs during annual festivities. Through this extremely rare book we can learn about the usual daily play of the children in the Edo era. Furthermore, Models of Children’s Play in the Old Days was widely published in its time, however, the one at Iwase Bunko Library is the only one left, meaning it is extremely valuable.