Mari Mihashi

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The Samurai Mentality

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サムライの心、江戸っ子の風習

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サムライには「心に綺羅を張る」と言うゆとりを見せる心だとか意地があって、それは生き方のお洒落を意味します。
お洒落は格好だけでは野暮ってもので、生き様が伴ってなければ格好が悪い。つまり、遊びの精神だと思います。
江戸には寺子屋と呼ばれる学校があり、そこで子供達は書き方とか読み方を習っていました。子供の教育は寺子屋だけでなく其処かしこで行なわれて、子供たちは大人から色々な風習を教わっていましたが、江戸っ子の風習は「一年をどうやって縁起良く暮らすか」の生活術です。縁起の良さやその中に潜む心を覗くと、金太郎飴のように同じ顔をした昔の日本、今の日本が見えてきます。
　

The Samurai Mentality, Edo Traditions

The samurai class had a stubborn conviction of needing to flaunt "affluence of the soul" and pursued sophistication and chic-ness in life.
Sophistication was not restricted to appearance, and superficial good looks were regarded vulgar. It had to be accompanied by smart and chic lifestyle. I interpret this as "spirit of playfulness in life."
Edo had schools known as "terako-ya" where children learned to read and write. The education of children took place not only at such schools but with adults teaching them various customs and practices. The traditions of the people of Edo are centered on "how to live the year in good fortune." This mindset ad approach shows how little Japan has changed since then.