著者

額田 巖

出版者

日本文化人類学会

雑誌

季刊民族學研究 (ISSN:00215023)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.19, no.3, pp.179-211, 1956-03-25

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1. Introduction : It is said that "knotting" is the first constructive technique that human beings acquired. By knotting, we can tie things, transport them and construct buildings. Knotting has also played an important part in the development of ancient designs, hieroglyphs and religious symbolism. It means posssssion, preservation, sealing, enclosing and connection. Expanding this idea, the technique of gate-bar, button, nail, hinge etc. were developed. The author believs that Japanese have acquired these techniques during the past several thousand years. 2. Classification of knotting by districts and professions. In order to clarify the binds of knotting and frequency of usage among our common people, the author has made a complete investigation throughout the country, by districts and by professions. The result indicates that the most popular knotting are the "man knot", "right knot", "weaver's knot" and "clove hitch" (heaving line bend or builder knot). And the following knots have special significance in their relation to ceratin professions, respectively: "english tie"-fisherman; "bowline knot"-fisherman; "weaver's knot'-farmer; "slide knot" (ship knot or running knot)-farmer; and "twisting-into knot"-farmer and carpenter. It would be noted that there are different names for the same knot in different districts. For example, the "man knot" has eight different names in a certain district, and has twenty-four different names in the whole country. It was found that the "man knot" and "twisting-into knot seem to have originated in our country. The author believes that these kinds of knotting were developed by using only moderately soft material such as straw. 3. Left-twisting rope and right-twisting rope: In ancient days, the miscauthus, miscauthus sinensis and tree bark seem to have been used as materials for rope. The twisting technique of rope material was invented by necessity in order to lengthen the short material. There are two kinds of twisting technique ; namely, "left-twisting" and "right-twisting". Through the investigation of the variation and distribution of these twisting techniques, the following three reasons for development were found, (a) For utillitarian purposes, (2) for religious or traditional reasons, and (c) through customs of old courtesy and manners. Especially it must be mentioned that the left twisting rope is frequently used in religious celebration in eastern Japan. 4. The method used in the solution of criminal offences : It is said that murders by using knots (strangulation) have rapidly increased after the War. The ease of obtaining knotting materials such as rope, string, cord, tape, band, strip, thong or ribbon etc., as compared with other instruments, seems to have encouraged this tendency. Investigation into the kinds of material and the knotting methods employed shows that there is a significant relation between the kind of knotting and the profession of the offender. In fact, many of famous criminal offences after the War in our country have been solved by the analysis of material of rope, characteristics of knotting method and the colors of the rope used.