Revealing the History of Management and Rituals of Sajo-jo Documents in Miyaza Archives: From the Viewpoint of Material Culture

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K16907
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology
• Research Institution: Lake Biwa Museum
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE Keiichi 滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館, その他部局等, 学芸技師 (80454081)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 差定状 / 頭役祭祀 / 宮座文書 / 中近世移行期 / 文書管理 / 文書儀礼

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study we conducted fieldwork focusing on miyaza archives in Shiga prefecture and surrounding areas. We found out the most classic type of documents called sajo-jo have been managed over the long term by miyaza groups, accompanied with various religious ceremonies. We revealed that the toyaku-saishi, which was thought to be declining and disappearing in the latter half of the Middle Ages, actually survives in the village society under the transition period of the Middle and the Modern Era in Japan.

Free Research Field

民俗学