厩と馬の世話
高田家の長屋門（長屋形式の門）は、門の内側から向かって右側には仲間（奉公人）部屋が、また左側には「厩」があります。
加賀藩（金沢を中心とする封建時代の石川）では、中級階級の「平士」かそれ以上の階級の侍は、屋敷内に厩を建て、馬を飼うことが許されていました。これらの武士は、公用で街に行く際には馬で出かけていました。特に裕福な武士宅ではたくさんの馬を飼っていたようですが、この高田家では２頭だけだったと考えられます。
高田家に仕える仲間には、馬の世話係の者がいました。彼らは毎日早朝に起床し、馬を引いて屋敷周辺で運動させた後に馬体を手入れし、その間に厩の敷き藁を交換しました。彼らは厩の直ぐ傍で待機し、主人が用事で街中に出かけるという知らせを受けると、直ちに馬に鞍をつけ、手綱を引いて主人の外出を待ちました。また外出中は常に主人に付き添い、主人が目的地まで乗馬で行く際には徒歩で供をしました。
Stables (Umaya) and Horse Care
The nagaya-mon (“longhouse gate”) owned by the Takada family includes a room for servants (chugen) on its right half and a stable (umaya) on the left, viewed from within the residence.
In the Kaga domain (feudal-era Ishikawa, centered on Kanazawa), samurai families of middle rank (heishi) or above were permitted to build and maintain a stable of horses in their residential compounds. These samurai most often rode on horseback when moving through the city on business. While particularly wealthy households may have kept many horses, it is thought that the Takada family’s stable held only two.
Some of the chugen serving in the Takada residence were responsible for the horses’ care. These servants rose early in the morning to walk the horses through the grounds for exercise, and then brushed them while the straw in the stables was being changed. They had to remain near the stables, ready to saddle and bridle the horses as soon as they received word that their master was preparing to leave the residence. They also usually accompanied him to his destination, running alongside his mount.
