The Guild of the Blind in Tokugawa Japan

Abstract

IN Tokugawa Japan the blind engaged in a surprisingly large variety of occupations, from farming and handicrafts to musical performance, from literary creation and historical scholarship to money lending and acupuncture. Blind reciters took a leading role in the creation of the Tale of the Heike, a Buddhistinspired requiem for fallen warriors and one of Japan's most important epics. Most of the classical repertory for the koto was created by the blind, who also composed countless pieces for other instruments. Many important shamisen performers in the puppet and kabuki theaters were visually disabled, as was Hanawa Hokiichi A R(1746-1821), the compiler and editor of the invaluable series of historical documents Gunsho ruiju a .fi t. The shogun, daimyo, and numerous wealthy families commonly retained blind acupuncturists, masseurs, and doctors in their residences. In addition, blind itinerants, male and female, contributed greatly to Japanese popular and folk performing arts. Since traditional society was poorly equipped to deal with sensory disabilities, a large percentage of the blind remained at home, the lifelong ward of a parent or relative. From medieval times, however, the visually disabled also formed a guild-like association known as todo M_ or the todo-za _MdJW (todo, our way; and za, guild) to support their economic and political activities. In this study I shall trace the changing role and function of the todo-za during the Tokugawa period, focusing not on Kyoto (where the guild maintained its headquarters) but on the city of Edo, where from the mid-eighteenth century the most influential trends were set. Kyoto always played an important role in todo-za politics, and continued to be a center for musical creation throughout the period, but it was in the shogunal seat that the majority of high-ranking todo-za members lived. Moreover, since the daimyo maintained residences in Edo, and large numbers of hatamoto and lower-ranking samurai lived there permanently, it was a natural focus for todo-za financial activities, especially moneylending.