A Study on the Medieval Development of the Oxcart("Gissha"): A Literature and Objects Approach

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K00935
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Gakushuin University
• Principal Investigator: Kimura Mamiko 学習院大学, 付置研究所, 研究員 (10815062)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 八葉車 / 杏葉車 / 京都御所 / 牛車 / 陽明文庫 / 洞院家 / 輿車雑要抄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have been reading and analyzing historical documents related to oxcarts（"Gissha”） remaining from the Middle and Early Modern periods. Specifically, we have made reprints of three important historical documents: “Shayotousho” owned by Sonkeikaku Bunko, “Yoshazatsuyoushou” owned by Yomei Bunko, and “Okuruma Shinchou Narabini Shuhukushorui” owned by the Imperial Household Agency's Shoryou Department. The latter two were reprinted in their entirety in the research report with explanatory notes on their formation, etc.
In addition, we conducted an on-site survey of two oxcarts of the Kyoto Office of the Imperial Household Agency, which are still used for the Aoi Matsuri Festival, and accurately measured them. Furthermore, we made a 1/10th size structural model and a 1/20th size model of the Gyouyouguruma, which is thought to have been made earlier than the other two, although both were determined to have been made in the 18th century based on the above literature review.

Free Research Field

日本中世史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

９世紀にはじめて日本で人が乗用するための車（＝牛車）が登場して以来、現在に至るまで車文化は続いている。なかで、京都御所に所在する２台の牛車は、前近代から続く車文化の賜物であるにも関わらず、その来歴は全く不明と言わざるを得なかった。２台とも鎌倉時代に描かれた牛車絵（車図）と類似の形態を有し、特に江戸時代初期の中和門院の乗用した尼眉網代庇車と同様の形態を有している。そのため、中世末期の制作にかかる可能性が高いと想定したが、史料を博捜し、江戸時代後期の牛車の修理関係史料などを読み進める中で、八葉車は１７８０年代の制作であること、杏葉車はそれ以前に作られた可能性の高いものであることが判明した。