The History of Falconry Presided over the Ancient Japanese Royalty

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  • 日本古代の王権と鷹狩
  • ニホン コダイ ノ オウケン ト タカガリ

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the history of falconry presided over by the ancient Japanese royalty. First, I analyze the Falconry Office (鷹甘部 taka-kai-be) and falconers (養鷹 shuyoushi, 放鷹宮司 hoyoushi) that kept hawks during the Yamato period. Second, I attempt to distinguish two types of falconers, one, the ordinary falconer and the other a specialist who had good knowledge on which royal society could rely. But, the expansion of royal hunting grounds (禁野 shimeno) during the Heian period caused conflicts with the people who lived in these areas. Third, relying on the book New Ceremonies (新儀式 Shingishiki) I point out that the "going to the fields for falconry" ceremony (野行幸 Nogyoukou) continued as a confirmation of Imperial rule of fields, mountains, and rivers .Furthermore, I investigate falconry games held by the retired Emperor Uda in 898.As a result, I suggest that this ceremony constituted a declaration that Uda was the real political leader in the realm. Last, I consider the hunters (狩使 karishi) who the Emperor dispatched nation-wide to hunt on his behalf.

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