@article{oai:tobunken.repo.nii.ac.jp:00003166,
 author = {今石, みぎわ and IMAISHI, Migiwa},
 issue = {6},
 journal = {無形文化遺産研究報告, Research and Reports on Intangible Cultural Heritage},
 month = {Mar},
 note = {A study is made of the technique for making mushiro, a type of straw mats, with focus on the changes in the form of the loom used, based on paintings of the medieval and early modern periods and existing folk materials.
     Mushiro are mats made by weaving straw that were once an essential part of the people’s lives. They were also important sources of income and merchandise from old. It is known that there were mushiro weavers in the late Heian period and that mushiro were commonly made throughout the country in the modern period, their manufacture having been encouraged as a side job. In principle, manufacture of mushiro is similar to weaving. Straw ropes are stretched across a wooden frame called mushiro-bata to serve as warp, and pieces of straw are woven as weft. Each straw rope is passed through a wooden tool called kote which is used in the same way as a heddle in weaving. Kote is also used to beat and tighten the weft (straw) that has been passed through the warp. It is from this movement that making of mushiro is also called mushiro-uchi, or beating mushiro.
     A comparative study of mushiro-bata found in historical documents and actual mushiro-bata of the modern period shows that there had been very little change in the technique of making mushiro during the medieval, early modern and modern periods in respect to the structure consisting of an upright, rectangular wooden frame and the use of kote. Furthermore, there were very little regional differences in the form of mushiro-bata. This implies that the development of the technique for manufacturing mushiro did not depend on inventions and improvements within given regions but that it was introduced to different regions after it had become fixed to a certain degree. In addition, it may be said that the structure of mushiro-bata itself was so simple that there was very little room for improvement and that the technique for manufacturing mushiro were introduced throughout the country from quite early on in history.
     Mushiro are folk utensils that have very simple form and are made with very simple technique. However, people’s lives consisted of trifling techniques like that used to manufacture mushiro, and in that sense mushiro are very important in people’s lives even though they are simple, everyday utensils. Techniques and objects as well as ways of life that are unique or characteristic are investigated and documented when they are in danger of decline or loss; at times, they are even protected as folk cultural properties. However, simple, everyday techniques and knowledge are often forgotten and disappear from history. Thus, it is important to consider the necessity and urgency of accumulating research on folk techniques which may seem trifling like that of manufacturing mushiro.},
 pages = {55--69},
 title = {筵と筵織りの技術―山口県下松市西谷を中心に―},
 year = {2012}
}