Sanuki no Suke’s Diary (11)
Seeing the golden bowl filled with ice, the Emperor exclaimed, "Looking at that seems to refresh me! I'd like to put some large ice cubes in a tote jar and gather my courtiers to enjoy some."
At this, all the ladies-in-waiting rose from their seats. Only the Chancellor remained in attendance.
Accompanied by Fujiwara Ieko and Minamoto Shishi, I entered the Emperor’s sleeping room that night. We set up folding screens at the back door and peered into the room through the opening. The Chancellor was waiting by the edge of the room. Right beside the room screen, others followed the Chancellor: the Chancellor's brothers, Minamoto Masatoshi (1063-1122) and Kunizane (1069-1111), who were the uncles of the Emperor; the Chancellor's son, Akimichi (1081-1122), who was the cousin of the Emperor; Minamoto Yoshitoshi (1070-1134); and Minamoto Shigesuke (1045-1122). The Chancellor took pieces of ice and handed them out to each of them. Perhaps, intending to "encourage the Emperor's idea," he himself took a piece. From behind the screen, we thought, "This way. If only the Emperor would recover like he did last year. How wonderful that would be!"
As night fell, and people were preparing lights and other things, the Emperor complained of severe pain, so the ministers hurried into the palace and immediately summoned Priest Zoyo and others. When the priest arrived, we set up screens around the Emperor and quietly stepped aside and listened. The priest performed a blessing. Perhaps because he was reciting sutras, the Emperor became quiet and seemed to be going to sleep.
I remember that this all happened on the 15th.
And so, another dawn broke, but he still appeared weak. And so, today, the 16th, also ended.
posted by kakutaharuo | 3:06 PM
1 Comments:
Note on the Ice (Kori 氷) and Icehouses (Himuro 氷室):
In the mid-seventh month of the lunar calendar (mid-August in the modern calendar), ice was an extraordinary luxury, practically exclusive to the Emperor and high-ranking aristocrats. Without modern refrigeration, obtaining ice in the sweltering Kyoto summer required a sophisticated system of winter harvesting, storage, and logistical transport managed by the Imperial Office of Water (Mondo-no-tsukasa 主水司).
During the coldest winter months, thick ice was harvested from frozen ponds and rivers, then stored in semi-subterranean icehouses (himuro 氷室) packed with straw and thatch for insulation. According to the 10th-century legal code Engishiki (延喜式), six official icehouses were established in Yamashiro Province (present-day Kyoto) to supply the Imperial Court. Most were strategically hidden in the cool, elevated valleys north of the capital:
Kurusunono & Tsusaka (Nagasaka) Icehouses (栗栖野・土坂氷室): Located in modern-day Nishigamo-Himuro-cho, Kita Ward. Situated in a mountain basin at an elevation of about 380 meters beyond the Kyōmi Pass (north of Kinkaku-ji and Takagamine), this was the primary and closest major icehouse complex. Today, visitors can still explore the historical site (Himuro-ato, a designated historic site of Kyoto) and visit Himuro Shrine (氷室神社), which is dedicated to the deity of ice.
Iwasaki Icehouse (石前氷室): Located near the Kinugasa area just north of Kinkaku-ji (modern-day Kinugasa-Himuro-cho, Kita Ward).
Ono Icehouse (小野氷室): Nestled in the mountains along the Takano River near Yase and Ohara, southeast of Kurama (modern-day Kamitakano-Himuro-yama, Sakyo Ward).
Tokuoka Icehouse (徳岡氷室): Located in the Omuro district north of Ninnaji Temple (modern-day Omuro-Sumiyoshi-yama, Ukyo Ward).
Sakakibara Icehouse (賢木原氷室): Situated in the hills west of the Katsura River (modern-day Katagihara, Nishikyo Ward).
Transported under cover of night to prevent melting, this precious ice arrived at the palace as a rare comfort for the gravely ill Emperor Horikawa. Understanding this historical background illuminates the deep devotion of the court attendants who presented it in a metal bowl to soothe his high fever, as well as the poignant image of the weakened emperor attempting to carve it himself.
Post a Comment
<< Home