Ohaguro Dobu

Japanese: おはぐろどぶ

...The number of prostitutes in Edo Yoshiwara numbered between 3,000 and 4,000 after the Kyoho era (1716-36), half of whom were low-class prostitutes. After their deaths, these prostitutes were left as abandoned graves and thrown into the gates of Jokanji Temple in Minowa (now Minamisenju 2-chome, Arakawa Ward), Dotetsu Temple (the common name for the Jodo sect's Saihoji Temple, now located in Nishi-Sugamo, Toshima Ward) at the south end of Shin-Torigoe Bridge (now Asakusa 7-chome, Taito Ward), and Shooku-in Temple in Nihonzutsumi (now located in Oyata, Adachi Ward) with some money attached.

From Yoshiwara

…The Daimon gate was the entrance to Yoshiwara, and from 10 p.m. until the next morning, the large door was closed, and people passed through the Kugurimon gate. The other entrances were emergency exits and were not normally open, but temporary drawbridges were prepared over the surrounding ditches (commonly known as "Ohaguro-dobu"). On the left and right inside the Daimon gate were guardhouses and meeting halls, manned by officials from the shogunate and Yoshiwara-cho, who were responsible for policing the area. …

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Ohagurodobu" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…江戸吉原の遊女人口は享保年間(1716‐36)以降，3000人から4000人を数えるが，階層の低い遊女が半数を占めており，こうした遊女は死亡した後も無縁仏として，三ノ輪（みのわ）(現，荒川区南千住2丁目)の浄閑寺や，新鳥越橋南詰(現，台東区浅草7丁目)にあった土手の道哲（どうてつ）(浄土宗西方寺の俗称。現在，豊島区西巣鴨に移転)，日本堤の正憶（しようおく）院(現在，足立区大谷田に移転)の山門の中に，なにがしかの銭を添えて投げ込まれた。…

【吉原】より

…大門は吉原の玄関で，夜10時から翌朝までは大戸をしめ，くぐり門を通行させた。その他の出入口は非常口で平常は開放されなかったが，周囲のどぶ(〈おはぐろどぶ〉と俗称)には臨時に使用する〈はね橋〉が用意されていた。大門の内側左右には番所，会所があって，それぞれ幕府と吉原町の役人が詰めて郭内の取締りにあたった。…

※「おはぐろどぶ」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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