Incense maker - Palm

A type of street vendor. In the early 18th century, the kagushi in Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo revised the Shikimoku (laws) of their profession, and it is believed that this profession was created around that time. The guardian deity is Shennong, a legendary ancient Chinese emperor. There were 13 kagushi (13 professions), and they were small merchants and entertainers such as medicine sellers, iainuki (wielding swords), kyokumari (ball-playing), fruit sellers, and haberdashery sellers. Medicine sellers were the majority, and the arts such as iainuki and kyokumari were actually ways to sell. In the 19th century, the Edo Shogunate issued a crackdown order. In the latter half of the 19th century, they also came to be called tekiya (target shop). Street vendor associations were formed in various places, and in 1924 (Taisho 13), a measure was taken to provide welfare benefits to kagushi in Osaka. The groups had family names, and there was a strict vertical order of boss, subordinate, brothers, and newcomers, as in the case of gamblers. In other words, procedures such as joining, excommunication, and lifting of excommunication are decided by the individual's behavior and the decision of the boss. There are also customs of Jingi and Tabi, and the rules are almost the same today. In the early modern period, there appeared Ojime, who used eloquent words to sell medicines in vacant lots, Korobi, who sat on the ground or placed tables to sell new products, Sansun, a prefabricated floor shop in entertainment districts, and Komise, a small shop that sold balloons and candy to women and children at night shows and festivals. In modern times, types based on the way of business were added, such as Takamono, a showman, and Boku, a gardener at festivals. There are various theories about the origin of the word Kagushi, and it has not been determined. It is said to be written as Yaji, which means a descendant of a wild samurai, and there is also a theory that it is written as Yashi, which means Yashiro, who was the first person to sell medicines. It can also be written as Yaji, Yashi, or Yashi. It is also called kogushi, and refers to a person who sells incense equipment (incense sticks and incense tools). Kogushi appear to have existed as early as the 17th century. It was probably around the 18th century that it became yashiki , but the reason for this is unknown.

[Motoo Endo]

"The Life of a Incense Maker" by Tomomichi Soeda (1964, Yuzankaku Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

露天商の一種。18世紀初めに京都、大坂、江戸の香具職たちが職法の式目（法規）を改定しているが、そのころには生まれていた職業と考えられる。中国古代の伝説上の帝王である神農(しんのう)氏を守護神としている。十三香具師（十三の職種）といわれ、薬売り、居合(いあい)抜き、曲鞠(きょくまり)、果物売り、小間物売りといった小商人と遊芸人とであった。薬売りが主で、居合抜き、曲鞠などの芸は実は売りつける手段でもあった。19世紀には江戸幕府は取締令を出している。19世紀後半からは的屋(てきや)ともいわれるようになった。また、各地に露天商組合ができ、1924年（大正13）には大阪で香具師同士の生活保護策も講じられたこともある。集団は家名をもち、博徒のように一家の親分・子分・兄弟分・新入りといった縦の秩序は厳しい。すなわち、入門・破門・破門解除といった手続も、本人の行状と親分の裁定により決まる。仁義、旅の慣行もあり、その規律は今日もほとんど同様である。近世では、空き地で弁舌巧みに薬などを売る大〆(おおじめ)、地面に座るか卓を置いて新案品を売る転(ころび)、盛り場などの組立て式の床店(とこみせ)の三寸、夜見世また縁日で女子供相手に風船・飴(あめ)などを売る小店(こみせ)が出現した。近代になると、興行師の高者(たかもの)、縁日の植木屋の木(ぼく)というような商売の仕方による種別が加わった。香具師の語源については、いろいろ説があり決定していない。野士と書いて野武士の後裔(こうえい)であるといい、また弥四と書いて弥四郎という者が初めて売薬行商をしたからという説もある。野師・矢師・八師とも書く。香具師(こうぐし)とも読み、香具（薫物(たきもの)・香道具）を売る者をいい、香具売りは17世紀にはいたようである。それがやしとなったのは18世紀のころであろうが、その理由はわからない。

［遠藤元男］

『添田知道著『香具師の生活』（1964・雄山閣出版）』

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