地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

The Rich History of Kamakura, Yokote’s Traditional Snow Domes

Snow structures called kamakura have been built in the area of Akita Prefecture for at least 400 years. However, they were not always the gently rounded domes for which the prefecture is now known. Records of early kamakura made in the city of Akita during the Edo period (1603–1867) show square, roofless structures decorated with banners, while records from Yokote describe snow structures that more closely resembled the dome shapes that are common in Akita Prefecture today. Kamakura have taken different shapes and served different purposes through the centuries, but their connection to local traditions has remained strong.

Early Forms of Kamakura

The oldest records concerning kamakura depict the children of samurai families running around square structures with banners and New Year’s ornaments. The children made offerings and sang songs wishing for a good harvest and the protection of the family. In these records, the structures were referred to as yukishiro (“snow castles”) or yukikabe (“snow walls”). However, the decorations found on the snow structures and the songs sung about them featured the word kamakura, and the structures themselves came to be known by that name. In Yokote as well, children of samurai built yukikabe-style kamakura. Children from merchant families, in comparison, built small snow domes next to the wells and rivers of the city, where they presented offerings and made prayers to the kami of water. After the samurai class was abolished in the late nineteenth century, their practices surrounding kamakura largely ceased. In the Taishō era (1912–1926), the creation of kamakura in Yokote shifted away from worship of the kami of water and became a ceremony mostly reserved for children, who would play in the snow structures and collect offerings of money and mochi for the small altars inside.

Modern Kamakura

Prior to modern times, kamakura were typically made from the piles of snow that had fallen from the roofs of buildings. As a result, the structures were small and did not form perfect domes. In 1959, the city established dome-shaped kamakura as the standard, but as the streets gradually became crowded with automobiles, the city encouraged the practice of building miniature kamakura instead. Currently, large snow domes for the Winter Festival are constructed by specialized artisans. They collect about 20 metric tons of snow to make the structures, which each stand 3 meters tall with walls about 70 centimeters thick. Inside the kamakura is an altar for offerings to the water god, woven mats, cushions, and a brazier. Children use the brazier to grill sweet mochi rice cakes and warm amaekko (the local name for amazake, a fermented rice drink), which they offer to passersby with a cry of “Please come inside!” (Haitte-tanse!)

橫手的傳統雪屋及其悠久歷史

建造雪屋（日語稱「かまくら」；kamakura）的傳統在秋田縣一帶已有400多年的歷史。雪屋並非一開始就是如今人們熟知的這種線條柔和的圓頂式樣。在有關雪屋的早期記錄中可以看到，江戶時代（1603-1867）秋田市的雪屋還是方形的，沒有屋頂，但有旗幟作為裝飾。而同一時期橫手市的雪屋卻已經接近於如今秋田縣內常見的圓頂形狀。在過去的幾百年間，雪屋有過各種模樣，承擔過不同的作用，但它們始終與各地的傳統風俗有著密不可分的聯繫。

雪屋的早期樣式

在最早提及雪屋的史料中，記錄了武士家族的孩子們圍繞方形雪屋奔跑的情形，雪屋上裝飾著旗幟和新年飾品。孩子們獻上祭品，唱著歌，祈禱新年豐收、闔家平安。在這些記錄中，雪屋直接被稱為「雪城」或「雪壁」。在日語裡，雪屋為何與「鐮倉」同音，被稱為「かまくら」（kamakura），眾說紛紜。或許是因為早期雪屋旁會插著鎌倉大明神的旗幟，又或許是因為當年孩子們唱的《追鳥歌》裡提到了「鎌倉殿」。在橫手市，武士階層的孩子們造的是「雪壁」式雪屋，而商人階層的孩子們會在城中的水井或河邊築起尺寸較小的圓頂雪洞，向水神供奉祭品並祈禱。19世紀晚期，武士階層被廢除，他們與雪屋相關的習俗也幾乎消失。到了大正時代（1912-1926），橫手的雪屋建造傳統漸漸偏離供奉水神的初衷，變成了為孩子們而設的節慶活動：孩子們在雪屋中遊戲，或以年糕和錢作為供品，供奉在屋內的小祭壇上。

現代雪屋

在進入現代社會以前，雪屋主要由各戶人家從屋頂上剷下積雪後自行修築而成。因此，它們尺寸較小，也不是標準的圓頂形狀。1959年，橫手市建造了以圓頂為標準樣式的雪屋，但由於道路車流量的增加，路上的圓底雪屋只能做成長方形，或根本就無法製作，因此當地開始鼓勵建造內裡空間僅可容納點燃蠟燭的迷你版雪屋。如今，為冰雪節而修築的大型雪屋都出自專業工匠之手。為了修建這些雪屋，工匠們要準備大約20噸的積雪，每間雪屋高3公尺，牆壁厚約70公分。雪屋內設有一個供奉水神的神龕，並配有蓆子、座墊和一個火盆。孩子們在火盆上烤著年糕，溫著甘酒（甜米酒），喊著「ハイッテタンセ！」（Haitte-tanse，意為請進）招呼過往行人進屋享用。

横手的传统雪屋及其悠久历史

建造雪屋（日语称“かまくら”；kamakura）的传统在秋田县一带已有400多年的历史。雪屋并非一开始就是如今人们熟知的这种线条柔和的圆顶式样。从有关雪屋的早期记录中可以了解到，江户时代(1603-1867)秋田市的雪屋还是方形的，没有屋顶，但有旗帜作为装饰。而同一时期横手市的雪屋却已经接近于如今秋田县内常见的圆顶形状。在过去的几百年间，雪屋有过各种模样，承担过不同的职能，但它们始终与各地的传统风俗有着密不可分的联系。

雪屋的早期样式

在最早提及雪屋的史料中，记录了武士家族的孩子们围绕方形雪屋奔跑的情形，雪屋上装饰着旗帜和新年饰品。孩子们献上祭品，唱着歌，祈祷新年丰收、家宅平安。在这些记录中，雪屋直接被称为“雪城”或“雪壁”。在日语中，雪屋为何与“镰仓”同音，被称为“かまくら”(kamakura)，众说纷纭。或许是因为早期雪屋旁会立一面镰仓大明神的旗帜，又或许是因为当年孩子们唱的《追鸟歌》里提到了“镰仓殿”。在横手市，武士阶层的孩子们建造的是“雪壁”式雪屋，而商人阶层的孩子们会在城中的水井或河边筑起尺寸较小的圆顶雪洞，向水神供奉祭品并祈祷。19世纪晚期，武士阶层被废除，他们与雪屋相关的习俗也几乎消失。到了大正时代(1912-1926)，横手的雪屋建造传统渐渐偏离供奉水神的初衷，变成了主要为孩子们而设的节庆活动，孩子们会在雪屋中游戏，或找来年糕和钱作为供品，供奉在屋内的小神龛上。

现代雪屋

在进入现代社会以前，雪屋主要由各户人家从屋顶铲下积雪后自行修筑而成。因此，它们尺寸较小，也不是标准的圆顶形状。1959年，横手市建造了以圆顶为标准样式的雪屋，但由于道路车流量的增加，路上的圆底雪屋只能做成长方形，或根本就没法制作，因此当地开始鼓励建造内里空间仅可容纳点燃蜡烛的迷你小雪屋。如今，为冰雪节而修筑的大型雪屋都出自专业工匠之手。为了修建这些雪屋，工匠们要准备大约20吨的积雪，每间雪屋高3米，墙壁厚约70厘米。雪屋内设有一个供奉水神的神龛，并配有地席、棉垫和一个火盆。孩子们在火盆上烤着年糕，温着甘酒（甜米酒），喊着“ハイッテタンセ！”（Haitte-tanse，意为请进）招呼过往行人进屋享用。