七十一番職人歌合
Commoners’ story
Nanajuichiban Shokunin Utaawase(Poetry Competition among People of Various Occupations in 71 Rounds)
- Introduction -
Since the beginning of Heaven and Earth, paths to a variety of occupations have been made. Among these paths, the path of Japanese poems softens people’s heart. Thus, we one hundred forty-two artisans who are commoners with big hearts, held a poetry contest where we split into right and left, and read Japanese poems about our occupations. There were seventy-one rounds.
The themes were the moon and love.
As well as the poems, please enjoy the way they looked.
- Development -
When speaking of artisans, what comes to mind is a laborer.
A carpenter or blacksmith working in construction. During times of war, a laborer is a bowmaker or a person skilled at crafting armor. A laborer is also a person who makes bamboo blinds for the Court and gold lacquer master. For women, a laborer is a person engaged in dyeing and weaving, such as a weaver, a person who dyes cloth using indigo ink, and a tailor.
In Kyoto, the number of artisans who make things has been gradually growing.
♪An old blacksmith under a ribbed roof pounds a hammer
  Gazing at the distant sight, the moon rises bright and clear♪
The sight of laborers working in the nighttime to meet their deadlines has not changed since the past.
- Turn -
Next, what comes to mind when thinking of artisans is a peddler.
There are peddlers who sell everyday things, such as pans, fans, and tatami mats. There are also peddlers who sell food, such as fish, liquor, and mochi. There are peddlers who have their own store, and those who go around carrying their goods. These kinds of artisans are made up of not only people who live in Kyoto, but those that come to Kyoto from the countryside as well.
♪The moon of an autumn night, like kimono wrapping paper,
  Thinned silver, the glint of foil ♪
For some people, their words are their skill, rather than their goods.
Artisans are also entertainers.
Harlots, dengaku dance, sarugaku theater, hayauta songs…dancing and singing.
- Conclusion -
Finally, an artisan is also a person of religion.
In Shintoism, there is a senior priest and medium priest. In Buddhism, there is “Old Buddhism” such as the Kegon sect and Yama-hoshi, and there are also new sects arising, such as the Zen sect and Nembutsu sects. There are not only monks but nuns as well. There are bikuni and nishu nuns.
♪Don’t tell me to love, it will be hard to
  Maintain commandments That is how lovely you are♪
Among noble families, there are also artisans who make official documents. Samurai warriors are artisans of combat, known as archers.
As you can see, there are many artisans in Kyoto lately that have been taking their own path.
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