Why did the Japanese Genroku period appear the folk song of "Kii has a notomi and Owari has a radish"?

Folk songs of the Genroku period in Japan - a microcosm of a piece of history

During the Genroku period of the Edo period in Japan, an intriguing folk song was circulated: "Mito has Aki-kun, Kii has Notomi, and Owari has radish." This inexplicable statement cleverly outlines the three major feudal states of Japan and their characteristics. After careful investigation, it is not difficult for us to find that there is a wonderful historical story hidden behind this.

If the Edo shogunate in Japan is a majestic edifice, then these "three families" are undoubtedly the three pillars that make up this edifice. During his reign, Tokugawa Ieyasu brought the three major feudal states into the core of the shogunate, sharing the responsibility of maintaining the Edo regime. However, under Tokugawa Tsunyoshi, the performance of these three schools was very different, showing a striking contrast.

The Mito family was in its heyday at this time, and the feudal lord Tokugawa Mitsuen, known as a "virtuous marquis", made achievements in many fields such as politics and culture. Although Tokugawa Tsunajo was not as good as his father, he could be regarded as a "wise king" at that time. Tokugawa Mitsusada, the second-generation feudal lord of the Kii family, was not as good as Mito Huangmon in terms of personal ability, but he was good at managing political affairs and recruiting talents, which laid the foundation for the later shogunate revolution.

In contrast, the Owari family is in turmoil. During the reign of the second feudal lord, Tokugawa Mitsutomo, various problems such as financial deficits and succession disputes followed, which eventually led to the outbreak of civil strife such as the intervention of the harem. This is in stark contrast to the image of Mito Akiro and Kii Notomi, which is why there is a joke about "Owari has a radish".

From this ballad, it is not difficult for us to find that the rise and fall of the "Imperial Family" in the Edo period of Japan actually reflects the microcosm of the entire society at that time. The Mito family was a new power, but the Kii family was able to maintain relative stability, while the Owari family was reduced to a laughing stock, and this contrast undoubtedly laid the groundwork for the rise and fall of the shogunate.

Behind this ballad, there is a microcosm of the alternation of power in a mature feudal dynasty. It vividly illustrates the differences between the three feudal states in terms of governance capabilities and talent selection, and also reflects the quietly brewing contradictions in Japanese society at that time. Throughout the Edo period, this folk song is not just an interesting historical anecdote, but also a historical microcosm that deserves to be explored in depth.

People tend to think of folk songs as just some innocuous colloquialisms, but if you go through the smoke and clouds of history and carefully analyze the meanings in them, you will often find that they can often present the characteristics of an era from a unique perspective. Although this kind of "Mito has a clear king, Kii has a nohenchen, and Owari has a radish" originates from a specific historical background, the connotation contained in it can provide some valuable inspiration for our society today.

We can't help but wonder, what is the basis for the rise and fall of a country or region? Is it just about the wise decisions of the rulers, or is it more about a loyal and dedicated bureaucracy? Or do you need some unique resources to back it up? These are important questions that deserve to be explored in depth.

Of course, we can't ignore some of the negative messages contained in this ballad. The internal strife and chaos of the Owari family undoubtedly reflected the various shortcomings of the society at that time. How we should avoid the recurrence of these problems is undoubtedly another heavy question that history has left us.

In general, behind this simple ballad, a vivid historical picture is reflected. We must learn to interpret these seemingly mundane folk quotations with an open mind in order to draw valuable historical wisdom from them. Only in this way can we find the direction and strength to move forward in today's rapidly changing society.

This poetic ballad not only outlines the characteristics of the three major feudal states at that time, but also reflects the context of the development of the entire society. It is not difficult to see that the prosperity of the Mito family is due to wise rule, and the performance of the Kii family is also due to its uniqueness in human resource development. In contrast, the Owari family has fallen into the quagmire of civil strife and can be described as plummeting.

This difference is reflected not only in the political theory of the feudal domain, but also in the lives of the people. The people of Mito are undoubtedly in good health, and the people of Kii are living and working in peace and contentment, while the lower classes of the Owari family are afraid that they will suffer from the war and make a worrying life. This stark contrast naturally aroused ridicule and ridicule among the people.

It is not difficult to imagine that when people at that time talked about these three feudal kingdoms, they would inevitably have all kinds of emotions and comments in their hearts. Mito is the place where the Lord of the Ming is located, and it is worthy of respect; Kii is capable and admirable; Owari, on the other hand, has only one ordinary vegetable, which makes it ridiculous and pitiful.

This feeling is eventually transformed into a folk rumor, which, although simple rhyming and swearing, expresses the complex psychology of an era. In this way, people expressed their envy for the wise rule and their dissatisfaction with the chaotic feudal state. It can be said that this ballad became a window into the microcosm of the society of the time.

What is even more worth pondering is why there is such a stark difference. Is it the disparity in the ability to rule, or is it the difference in the interests of the grassroots people? Or was the civil strife itself a foreshadowing? The answers to these questions are undoubtedly contained in this simple ballad.

Therefore, we cannot simply dismiss this rumor as some insignificant slang. On the contrary, we should carefully interpret the historical information contained in it, so as to better understand the social landscape of that era. Only in this way can we draw useful inspiration from it and contribute to the construction of our society today.

This is undoubtedly a history worthy of our in-depth exploration, and it is worthy of our heart's understanding. Let us cross the long river of time together, relive this moving story, understand the wisdom of history, and provide useful reference for our social development today.