In recent years, new theories have been whispered about the beginning of the Warring States period.
Globally Mini Glacial (Little Ice Age) from mid-14th century to mid-19th century It is said that it was. Above all, the temperature is particularly low from the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century, and although the temperature difference is about 2 ° C to 3 ° C, it is a matter of life and death for agricultural products.
Therefore, in Japan, during the Warring States period and the Edo period, famine frequently occurred due to poor rice crops. Even now, there are still poor rice crops, but I am grateful that it is not important because there are imported rice, but at that time it was an important life-threatening problem.
In fact, most of the battles were often held from autumn to the spring of the following year. There was a reason for this, one was to invade neighboring countries, robbing freshly harvested crops and wealth, and sometimes trafficking people and kidnaps.
The other was that the long-term expedition had the effect of reducing the number of mouths, which had the effect of reducing the burden of food demand in the home country.
Major famines from the Warring States period to the Edo period
| Kansho Famine | 1459 | More than 80,000 dead in Kyoto |
| Astronomical Famine | 1540 | Tens of thousands of dead |
| Kanei Great Famine | 1642 | 50,000 to 100,000 dead |
| Kyoho's Great Famine | 1732 | There is a record that 960,000 people died of starvation |
| Tenmei Famine | 1782 | Even if the population has decreased by 920,000 |
| Tenpo's Great Famine | 1833 | 700,000 people suffer from hunger |
All of the famine was caused not only by the effects of the Little Ice Age, but also by the lack of sunshine due to the eruption of the volcano. However, in the 19th century, the temperature began to rise and famine seemed to decrease.
How did the common people survive the cold during the Little Ice Age?
In today's Tokyo, it is not uncommon for the temperature to exceed 30 degrees Celsius in the summer, but in the Edo period it seemed to be around 25 degrees Celsius on average, making it a relatively comfortable temperature. On the other hand, in winter, it is said that the Sumida River froze, and it is said that the average temperature in March in Sapporo was about 4 ° C to -4 ° C.
How did people survive the cold in an era when heating was inadequate and there were no coats or heat techs?
Since the building materials for houses in the Edo period were wood and paper, it is presumed that the houses at that time were not airtight and the indoor temperature was extremely low. Heating appliances are also braziers and hand brushes It wasn't something that warmed the whole room.
The one that played an active part here was the [ 褞 袍 that was used as a winter loungewear. 】was.
It is difficult to write in Chinese characters, but the familiar [ Dotera 】is.
Also known as [ Tanzen ] It is also called. From my point of view, the long one is [Tanzen] and the short one is [Dotera]. Both are the same, aren't they?
These dolls are one size larger than the kimono and contain cotton throughout.
In the early Edo period, a lot of cotton was added to the [ Tanzen style , which was popular among the flag bookers who liked foreign styles. ] Was the origin of the kosode, and in the latter half of the Edo period, it became established as winter clothing for the common people.
Since it is basically a loungewear, it seems that he did not use it when going out, but it seems that people who have a lot of outside work such as craftsmen came instead of jumpers. In addition, [hanten] and [chanchanko] are made by stuffing cotton in a sleeveless haori. Has also appeared.
Kappa already existed in the Edo period
Currently, one of the standard rain gear [Kappa] was active in the Edo period as well as on rainy and snowy days.
Nowadays, it is fashionably called [raincoat] in Western style, but it is written in Chinese characters as [Aiba].
There are various types of Aiba, and the cloak-like [Mawashi Aiba] was used for travel. That's what the Kitafu Kozo, who used to say [cold Ugozansu], was wearing.
The most widely used rain gear was the water-repellent paper and cotton-made "half-gou".
In addition, the familiar [ Mino in Kasa Jizo ] Was indispensable as a winter cold protection item. It is said that it still snows in Yokohama, but in the Edo period it was said that it had fallen to the ankles.
The straw-knitted hat and mino styles were mostly common in rural areas.
In the middle of the Edo period, [ umbrella ] Has appeared and becomes an indispensable item on rainy and snowy days, but the shade has not lost yet. As for other headgear on snowy days, it is good to roll it up and wear it. [ Tenugui ] Will be a big success.
On snowy days, he wrapped it around his head to protect himself from the cold and survived the snow, and in the summer when the sun was strong, he wore it instead of a hat. Until now, hemp hand towels have been the mainstream, but cotton materials have also appeared and become widespread.
On a cold day without snow, a towel that can be used as a muffler was very useful to the general public as a versatile item.
There is a wide variety of clothes and heads, but your feet are ...
There was a wide variety of measures to protect against the cold during the Edo period, but what about footwear?
Speaking of footwear at that time, clogs, sandals, and straw shoes were the mainstream, but there were many purposes and trends depending on the times. Clogs first appeared in the middle of the Edo period and before, and before that, sandals and straw shoes were common. Going back further, it is said that all the peasants during the Warring States period were barefoot.
As I mentioned before when I wrote about fashion in the Edo period, the classic footwear on winter days is [ footwear . It was a geta with a little high teeth. On a snowy day, it was troublesome to write out because the snow was clogged between the teeth, but there was an advantage that it was difficult for the snow to stick directly to the feet.
Finally ...
Fashion is still said to be patience, but the Edokkos also had the aesthetic sense of [light clothing is stylish] and [date light clothing]. Those who said that did not wear heavy clothes even in winter, and they said that they wore clogs with bare feet all year round.
It seems that the prostitutes of Yoshiwara also passed barefoot even in the middle of winter.
Even in the middle of winter, there are things that are reminiscent of modern young children and can be worn in miniskirts with bare feet. Furthermore, since it was the Edo period, which was colder than the present day, we can see that the durability of people at that time to the cold is tremendous.