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1649: Hiroshima Fief Authorities Issue Regulation
to Control 'Komosō' and Other Claimed "Troublemakers"
This text, dated 1649, 4th month, 5th day, was presented by Hosaka Hiro'oki in an academic article of his in 1994*, on page 201:
「他国のニセ座頭 - 山伏 - てくのほう廻 - こも僧 - 念仏申道心者、
其外むさと仕たるものに宿貸し申間敷事」
Here, in this official notification directed towards the 'gonin-gumi',
五人組,
the mutually responsible five-household-units of Edo Japan,
the authorities in the fief of Hiroshima in W. Japan, are expressing concern regarding housing and lodging for the homeless, such as for example:
'nise-zatō', ニセ座頭, fake blind people,
'yamabushi', 山伏, mountain worshippers,
'komosō' こも僧, "mat monks", and
'nenbutsu saru-dō kokoro-sha', 念仏申道心者, Pure Land Amitabha Buddha preachers.
Yes, correct: Here, as "late" as in 1649, you still meet the term 'komosō' in print!
* Hosaka Hiro'oki: 'Jūshichi seiki ni okeru komusō no seisei: boroboro,
komosō to no idō to 'kou' kōi no arikata.'
Printed in: Mibunteki shūen.
Publ. by Buraku mondai kenkyō shuppan-bu,
pp. 161-216, Kyoto, 1994.
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