|
|
|
|
||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
HOME > the spirit of the brabd nihonbashi-bijin > Yuu:Edo-Shigusa Cultural Enrichment Ms. Reiko Koshigawa Leader of the Edo-Shigusa Narrators'Group
An aptitude for considering other people ﾕs feelings is the charm of Nihonbashi-bijin ﾑJapan Beauty from Edo-Tokyo. Now Edo-shigusa, the manners and behaviors established by the leaders of Edo, has gradually become the topic of conversation. The reason for that is because people are pursuing in natural beauty derived from the consideration and respect for others. Well-educated women of sophistication shine. So we asked Ms. Reiko Koshigawa, the recognized authority on Edo-Shigusa, about the elegant sophistication of people in Edo underlying the value of the Nihonbashi-bijin brand.
Edo-Shigusa Cultural Enrichment for Nihonbashi-bijin
Ms. Reiko Koshigawa
Leader of the Edo-Shigusa Narrators'Group
Leader of the Edo-Shigusa Narrators'Group
Edo-shigusa
“Edo-shigusa,” including “Kasa-kashige” referring to passing each other on the road in the rain with each umbrella quickly tilting outward, “Kobushi-koshi-ukase” referring to making room for others, and “Kata-hiki” referring to passing each other on a narrow road by moving each right shoulder back is well known to the public through the media. These are categorized in “Ohatsu-shigusa,” the early level of manners in Edo-shigusa. However, you shouldn ﾕt think of Edo-shigusa as a simple collection of manners from Edo. The spirit behind those manners is more important.
Shigusa is written 思草 in kanji characters. 思 means “a mind,” and 草 means “words or the way of talking.” In other words, shigusa means that the mind a person developed over a long time in order to maintain good relationships with others is expressed in specific situations in the form of words or behaviors. Merchants in Edo, including Nihonbashi as a town of merchants, valued trust and treated customers kindly, so they never used rough language like teyandei or beranme style. They thought that rough words would soil the way of life and relationship with customers. Using refined and proper words are the fundamentals of Edo-shigusa.
“Edo-shigusa,” including “Kasa-kashige” referring to passing each other on the road in the rain with each umbrella quickly tilting outward, “Kobushi-koshi-ukase” referring to making room for others, and “Kata-hiki” referring to passing each other on a narrow road by moving each right shoulder back is well known to the public through the media. These are categorized in “Ohatsu-shigusa,” the early level of manners in Edo-shigusa. However, you shouldn ﾕt think of Edo-shigusa as a simple collection of manners from Edo. The spirit behind those manners is more important.
Shigusa is written 思草 in kanji characters. 思 means “a mind,” and 草 means “words or the way of talking.” In other words, shigusa means that the mind a person developed over a long time in order to maintain good relationships with others is expressed in specific situations in the form of words or behaviors. Merchants in Edo, including Nihonbashi as a town of merchants, valued trust and treated customers kindly, so they never used rough language like teyandei or beranme style. They thought that rough words would soil the way of life and relationship with customers. Using refined and proper words are the fundamentals of Edo-shigusa.
The teachings of leaders
The important philosophy of Edo-shigusa comprised two elements, i.e. “Never fight a battle” which was one of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa's teachings and “Enjoy our life pleasantly with each other as we cannot live our life again.”
The leaders of Nihonbashi had great ambition, including the owners of large stores, and tried to achieve the philosophy, devoting themselves to learning the classics and studying humanism. In order to keep the peace in the town and enjoy business prosperity, it was important to establish the basis for business, that is, good relationships with others. So they were committed to good interpersonal relationships with consideration for others. When someone at a lower level said “Good morning,” they replied saying “Good morning,” as if they were on the same level. They listened to the opinions of even apprentices saying, “Don't hesitate. Please tell me.” On the other hand, to say “I am very sorry for not knowing that you are a person in a high position ﾉ” was thought to be opposed to the idea of Edo-shigusa because it may mean that there is no need to regard a person on a lower level. It was considered the wrong attitude and opposed to the philosophy of “having respect for everyone.” The attitude of those leaders managing business organizations was established as decency toward individuals, spreading among the people as Edo-shigusa, which was cool, i.e. iki, as anyone wants to follow.
The important philosophy of Edo-shigusa comprised two elements, i.e. “Never fight a battle” which was one of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa's teachings and “Enjoy our life pleasantly with each other as we cannot live our life again.”
The leaders of Nihonbashi had great ambition, including the owners of large stores, and tried to achieve the philosophy, devoting themselves to learning the classics and studying humanism. In order to keep the peace in the town and enjoy business prosperity, it was important to establish the basis for business, that is, good relationships with others. So they were committed to good interpersonal relationships with consideration for others. When someone at a lower level said “Good morning,” they replied saying “Good morning,” as if they were on the same level. They listened to the opinions of even apprentices saying, “Don't hesitate. Please tell me.” On the other hand, to say “I am very sorry for not knowing that you are a person in a high position ﾉ” was thought to be opposed to the idea of Edo-shigusa because it may mean that there is no need to regard a person on a lower level. It was considered the wrong attitude and opposed to the philosophy of “having respect for everyone.” The attitude of those leaders managing business organizations was established as decency toward individuals, spreading among the people as Edo-shigusa, which was cool, i.e. iki, as anyone wants to follow.
Edo-komachi working at Mizujaya was a well-cultured woman who was putting Edo-shigusa into practice. Source: Tokyo National Museum
Edo-komachi who is skilled in interpersonal relations
“Edo-nyoubou,” refers to a woman who has worked to hone her skills since birth to be a good cook, a good needlewoman, and very kind and charming, which is said to have been one of the factors for succeeding in Edo. By contrast, “kappei” (or “inakappei” meaning a frog in a little well) referred to a woman who was conceited, and it is said that old people complained that such a woman would serve even very delicious dishes distastefully.
Among the women who worked at a roadside tea-house called Mizujaya, there was a cool one who was very popular and so became the motif for Ukiyoe (Japanese wood block prints in the Edo period), and songs for playing traditional Japanese handball and plays. She was not only beautiful but also very skilled in communicating with customers. Moreover, she served her customers in a steady alto voice, which the natives of Edo liked, so many people pressed around her to see her and hear her voice.
Like her, a woman who honed her sensibility to feelings and the positions of others, acquired culture allowing her to address everyone appropriately, and mastered the Edo-shigusa fully enough to use it naturally was thought of highly as Edo-komachi. That is, Edo-komachi was self-reliant.
The spirit of having and the proper and beautiful philosophy, if you hone it everyday, will reflect in your manners and facial expression. When you want to become a well-cultured woman who is a good communicator and skilled in serving others, the knowledge acquired from how-to books would be of no help to you. There are no wonder drugs for Edo-shigusa like dressing luxuriously to look beautiful. It is important in the mastery of Edo-shigusa to improve your sensibility and insight for developing inner beauty, just like preventing lifestyle-related diseases. I think the products of the Nihonbashi-bijin brand, which are effective for being “beautiful in body and mind” support the development of beautiful women. Women who develop themselves by viewing authentic antiques in museums, fostering imagination through good relationships with people, or other ways will become beautiful internally, being lively as well as cool and beautiful in expression. I think Nihonbashi-bijin should be a woman like that.
“Edo-nyoubou,” refers to a woman who has worked to hone her skills since birth to be a good cook, a good needlewoman, and very kind and charming, which is said to have been one of the factors for succeeding in Edo. By contrast, “kappei” (or “inakappei” meaning a frog in a little well) referred to a woman who was conceited, and it is said that old people complained that such a woman would serve even very delicious dishes distastefully.
Among the women who worked at a roadside tea-house called Mizujaya, there was a cool one who was very popular and so became the motif for Ukiyoe (Japanese wood block prints in the Edo period), and songs for playing traditional Japanese handball and plays. She was not only beautiful but also very skilled in communicating with customers. Moreover, she served her customers in a steady alto voice, which the natives of Edo liked, so many people pressed around her to see her and hear her voice.
Like her, a woman who honed her sensibility to feelings and the positions of others, acquired culture allowing her to address everyone appropriately, and mastered the Edo-shigusa fully enough to use it naturally was thought of highly as Edo-komachi. That is, Edo-komachi was self-reliant.
The spirit of having and the proper and beautiful philosophy, if you hone it everyday, will reflect in your manners and facial expression. When you want to become a well-cultured woman who is a good communicator and skilled in serving others, the knowledge acquired from how-to books would be of no help to you. There are no wonder drugs for Edo-shigusa like dressing luxuriously to look beautiful. It is important in the mastery of Edo-shigusa to improve your sensibility and insight for developing inner beauty, just like preventing lifestyle-related diseases. I think the products of the Nihonbashi-bijin brand, which are effective for being “beautiful in body and mind” support the development of beautiful women. Women who develop themselves by viewing authentic antiques in museums, fostering imagination through good relationships with people, or other ways will become beautiful internally, being lively as well as cool and beautiful in expression. I think Nihonbashi-bijin should be a woman like that.
  |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
