Half-foot

A type of straw sandal, also written as ashi-naka. It is half the length of regular sandals, and features a strap that is tied around the thong. Because it is short, it fits snugly against the sole of the foot, preventing pebbles and mud from getting in, and it played a role similar to that of today's spikes. It was already seen in the Kamakura period picture scroll "Kasuga Gongen Reigenki," and was worn by foot soldiers and ordinary samurai. During the Muromachi period, when samurai customs became more prevalent, a set of rules was established for the way ashi-han were worn, and it is said that Oda Nobunaga was allowed to see people as long as he was wearing ashi-han. During the Edo period, it became popular in farming, mountain, and fishing villages throughout the country, and in some regions, the long sandal-shaped sandals were called ashi-han. In addition, it is noted in the Kana-zoshi that in ancient times it was called hanmonogusa.

[Takeshi Endo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

藁草履(わらぞうり)の一種で、足中とも書く。普通の草履に比べて長さが半分であり、芯緒(しんお)を利用して鼻緒を結ぶことが特色である。長さが短いため足の裏に密着するので小石や泥が入らず、今日のスパイク的な役割を果たした。鎌倉時代の絵巻物『春日権現霊験記(かすがごんげんれいげんき)』のなかにすでにみられ、雑兵や一般武士の履き物であった。室町時代、武家故実が盛んに行われるようになると、足半の履き方にも一つの決まりができ、織田信長は足半を履いていれば目通りを許したという。江戸時代に入ると全国の農山漁村で用いられるようになり、なかには長草履の形をしたものを足半という地方もあった。なお、古くは半物草(はんものぐさ)とよばれていたことが仮名草子にみられる。

［遠藤　武］

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