5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[MIS24-P02] The appearance of “karuishi” in ancient Japanese documents and the transformation of their names and meanings
Keywords:karuishi, herbal book, Kaibara Ekiken, Ono Ranzan
The term “fuseki” (floating stone) was widely used as a technical term referring to pumice in the old academic papers and reports related to volcanic geology. A study of when the term “fuseki” began to be used reveals that it appeared in the Chinese classics “Gotofu” and “Koshuki,” which were established around the late 3rd to 4th centuries (Aoki, presentation at this conference). The term “fuseki” was incorporated into Chinese botanical books around the 10th century and was also introduced to Japan. The "Wamyo-rui-ju-sho" compiled in the mid-Heian period (AD 931–AD 938) in Japan contained a description of “fuseki, which the Japanese name of "fuseki" (Chinese) was "karuishi” which means pumice in Japanese.
In the documents mentioned above, the genesis of “fuseki” and “karuishi” is not addressed. Additionally, the “Bencao Gangmu” by Li Shizhen (AD1596), a Chinese herbal book established during the Ming dynasty, explains that “fuseki” is created by the mixture of sea foam and sand. Japanese herbal books written in the Edo period generally refere to the “Bencao Gangmu” for the genesis of “fuseki.” In this presentation, by comparing the chronological usage of the term “karuishi” in Japanese texts, I estimate when the association between “karuishi” and volcanic activity began.
According to the Kadokawa Dictionary of Old Japanese, six reference books cite examples of the term “karuishi.” These are the "Wamyo-rui-ju-sho", “Yamashinake Raiki”, “Hagakure” “Wakan Sansai Zue,” and “Rigaku Hiketsu”, which recognize “karuishi” as the same as pumice. On the other hand, “Haifu-Yanagi-daru” uses “karuishi” metaphorically. This paper aims to trace the recognition of the term “karuishi” by examining the five texts mentioned earlier, except “Haifu-Yanagi-daru”.
- The “Yamashinake Raiki”, the only example of a medieval document, mentions the use of pumice for grooming during a bath in 1477, and recorded it in hiragana as “karuishi.”
- The “Wakan Sansai Zue,” compiled by Terajima Ryōan and published in 1712, mentions “fuseki” with “karuishi” as the furigana, in volume 61.
- The “Hagakure” a transcription of Yamamoto Tsunetomo's words by Tashiro Zensho, compiled in 1716, mentions “karuishi” in the context of samurai grooming.
- The “Rigaku Hikkei,” written by Kamada Ryūou and housed in the Iwase Bunko Library in Nishio City, has “fuseki” with the furigana “karuishi” in the microfilm copy of the original published in 1816. This indicates that the term was read as “karuishi” even though it was written as “fuseki” in Chinese characters.
Considering the examples of “karuishi” mentioned above, it can be said that “karuishi” was the term used in ancient Japanese. Even when written as “fuseki” in Chinese characters, it was likely read as “karuishi” in general Japanese. Among the above texts, the only one addressing the relation between pumice and volcanic activity is “Rigaku Hiketsu.” Although some historical documents described well-known volcanic eruptions, no sentences mentioning “karuishi” were found in this point.
Furthermore, the tracing of the descriptions of “fuseki” in Japanese herbal books compiled during the Edo period shows that Kaibara Ekiken's “Yamato Honzō” in the early 18th century followed Li Shizhen's explanation in the “Bencao Gangmu”, while Ono Ranzan's “Honzo Kōmoku Keimō” in the early 19th century refuted Li Shizhen's theory and explained that “fuseki” was caused by volcanic activity, as seen in eruptions such as Izu Ōshima (AD1777-AD1778, AD1783-AD1792) and Sakurajima (AD1779-AD1782). The content of 18th-century herbal scholars' writings indicates a shift in recognition, from the perception of “fuseki” as a product of the sea to something that can be found inland or in the mountains. This shift is closely related to the frequent occurrence of large-scale volcanic eruptions in the late 18th century, such as Sakurajima, Izu Ōshima, Asama (AD1783), and Aogashima (AD1785).
In the documents mentioned above, the genesis of “fuseki” and “karuishi” is not addressed. Additionally, the “Bencao Gangmu” by Li Shizhen (AD1596), a Chinese herbal book established during the Ming dynasty, explains that “fuseki” is created by the mixture of sea foam and sand. Japanese herbal books written in the Edo period generally refere to the “Bencao Gangmu” for the genesis of “fuseki.” In this presentation, by comparing the chronological usage of the term “karuishi” in Japanese texts, I estimate when the association between “karuishi” and volcanic activity began.
According to the Kadokawa Dictionary of Old Japanese, six reference books cite examples of the term “karuishi.” These are the "Wamyo-rui-ju-sho", “Yamashinake Raiki”, “Hagakure” “Wakan Sansai Zue,” and “Rigaku Hiketsu”, which recognize “karuishi” as the same as pumice. On the other hand, “Haifu-Yanagi-daru” uses “karuishi” metaphorically. This paper aims to trace the recognition of the term “karuishi” by examining the five texts mentioned earlier, except “Haifu-Yanagi-daru”.
- The “Yamashinake Raiki”, the only example of a medieval document, mentions the use of pumice for grooming during a bath in 1477, and recorded it in hiragana as “karuishi.”
- The “Wakan Sansai Zue,” compiled by Terajima Ryōan and published in 1712, mentions “fuseki” with “karuishi” as the furigana, in volume 61.
- The “Hagakure” a transcription of Yamamoto Tsunetomo's words by Tashiro Zensho, compiled in 1716, mentions “karuishi” in the context of samurai grooming.
- The “Rigaku Hikkei,” written by Kamada Ryūou and housed in the Iwase Bunko Library in Nishio City, has “fuseki” with the furigana “karuishi” in the microfilm copy of the original published in 1816. This indicates that the term was read as “karuishi” even though it was written as “fuseki” in Chinese characters.
Considering the examples of “karuishi” mentioned above, it can be said that “karuishi” was the term used in ancient Japanese. Even when written as “fuseki” in Chinese characters, it was likely read as “karuishi” in general Japanese. Among the above texts, the only one addressing the relation between pumice and volcanic activity is “Rigaku Hiketsu.” Although some historical documents described well-known volcanic eruptions, no sentences mentioning “karuishi” were found in this point.
Furthermore, the tracing of the descriptions of “fuseki” in Japanese herbal books compiled during the Edo period shows that Kaibara Ekiken's “Yamato Honzō” in the early 18th century followed Li Shizhen's explanation in the “Bencao Gangmu”, while Ono Ranzan's “Honzo Kōmoku Keimō” in the early 19th century refuted Li Shizhen's theory and explained that “fuseki” was caused by volcanic activity, as seen in eruptions such as Izu Ōshima (AD1777-AD1778, AD1783-AD1792) and Sakurajima (AD1779-AD1782). The content of 18th-century herbal scholars' writings indicates a shift in recognition, from the perception of “fuseki” as a product of the sea to something that can be found inland or in the mountains. This shift is closely related to the frequent occurrence of large-scale volcanic eruptions in the late 18th century, such as Sakurajima, Izu Ōshima, Asama (AD1783), and Aogashima (AD1785).