Beautiful Blog on “JuriNma”, Another Dying Tradition in Okinawa

Thanks to our friend Masashi in Okinawa, he sent us a blog that captured the “JuriNma” celebration observance which falls usually around the second week of the lunar new year.  This tradition supposedly began in the Meiji era, as thanksgiving to the community, ancestors, and gods, for watching over, and providing for them in the past year.  This was especially meant for the surrounding communities of the “juri” (Okinawan geisha) houses, as also a sign of gratitude for putting up with them being in the community.  Although “Juri” were looked down on and lived the life of one of the less honored in the community, they lived a very strict and most humble life, even bowing to the youngest child in the community when they travelled outside of the confines of the house.  Most came from a very poor background which lead to their parents selling them to the “Juri” houses, so that they would be guaranteed food, clothing, and education.  Sadly however, once sold and committed to the “Juri” houses, these girls/women only returned upon their death.  After WWII, many of the “juri” had no place to return to as the “Hana no Shima” or “Juri” district was destroyed.  Many returned to their home village, only to be ostracized by the community, and they had to suffer to work meager jobs to survive. A great movie to look up and which shows the life of a “juri” is “Yushiya Chiru”.  Its an old film done in black and white and Okinawan actors speaking in the native language.

The “JuriNma matsuri” was one of Naha’s main attractions, but this has steeply declined in recent years. It is very heartwarming to see that there are still some who are preserving and celebrating this tradition, but it is also sad to see that it has become so small in comparison to full streets of people watching group after group dance down the streets of Matsuyama, and Kokusai Dori.

OKINAWAN “JYURIUMA”

今日は旧暦の二十日正月。よーやく正月もあけましたね。

毎年二十日正月には、那覇市の辻でジュリ馬が行われるので。
今回、初めて見てきました。
そもそもジュリ馬ってなんぞや？
と思われる方もいらっしゃると思いますが。
簡単にご説明を
江戸時代、浅草・浅草寺の奥に吉原遊廓が幕府の公認により1657年に（移設）設立されたように、那覇・波之上宮の足もとの辻に、琉球王府により1672年に辻遊廓が公設され、そこに働く遊女はジュリと呼ばれていた。
辻のジュリシステムは本土のそれとはかなり異なりユニークなものであったようだ。辻は社交場でもあり、琉球料理などの伝統文化を育んだともいわれている。
旧暦１月20日に、辻遊廓の豊年祈願と商売繁盛を願ってジュリが遊廓を出て舞踊行列（「ジュリ馬スネー」と呼ばれた）し、那覇３大祭りの一つといわれた。「辻売り」された女性は年に一度、このときに両親と互いの姿を確かめ合ったという。
このジュリ馬スネーは1989年に公娼制度を認めるものとして女性団体から反発され、以来中止されていた。
下記URLサイトより抜粋
説明してくれている親切な方がいたので助かります。
私が書くとなると夜が明けるので参考させて頂きました。
早速写真を垂れ流し
Click and paste the following to see a video of “JuriNma”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYVwMRoCtQQ
今年は道ジュネーが無いのが残念だった。
これが休日に当たっていたらな～
動画も撮ったのでどうぞ

1 コメント:

Kiyos さんのコメント…

じゅり馬は私も見たかったです！
この間のJTB杜の賑いで、ジュリ馬を見れた時には感激したものです！けど、やっぱり生が見たい！

今度あるときには誘ってくださいね！！

2011年2月23日0:20

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