David English
in the flowering rape
well, well
the great God Inari!
-Issa, 1812
50 years old, lived in Edo, leaving out on November to
his home village for dwelling eternally there.
It needs more two year to get his share of father's asset.
sakuo Japanese
菜の花に よしよし 稲荷 大明神
na no hana ni yosi yosi inari daimyoujin
Issa Original
菜の花にやれやれいなり大明神
na no hana ni yare-yare inari daimyôjin
David comment
Rape (or canola) is a bright yellow flowering plant of Asia. Inari is the Shinto god of cereal grains.
sakuo Image
Here is the distribution map of rape flower oil.
In Edo period, people use much seed oil for lighting that made from
seed of rape flower..
The farmer must pay his rice as tax, but rape seed is free from tax.
So farmer is pleased to have good harvest of rape.
Issa’s old sponsor, Ohkawa is an oil dealer and rich enough to help
Issa.
There were many Inari shrines in Edo period. Inari is the god of farmer
and commerce. Inari was considered as being a fox.
The map told that, the flowering rape will bring farmer extra mony and
oil dealer can get cheap oil seed. People in Edo can enjoy oil lighting.
All together say thanks to Inari the great God.
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