Isn't that okay?

From the summer of 1867 (Keio 3) to the spring of the following year, a popular movement accompanied by frenzied wild dancing broke out mainly in the Tokai and Kinki regions, triggered by the descent of a sacred talisman. The words chanted by the people at that time, "Eejanaika," came to refer to the entire movement. It occurred in July and August of 1867 in post towns along the Tokaido road, such as Mitsuke, Goyu, Yoshida, and Fujikawa. Its range extended from Edo in the east, Hiroshima in the west, Wakayama in the south, Muroto in Shikoku, Kyoto Prefecture in the north, the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan in Hyogo Prefecture, and Matsumoto in Shinshu. This popular movement began with the descent of talismans and other items, which were then placed on an altar and enshrined. It was followed by banquets and lavish feasts in front of the altar, the frenzy of men and women dressed in extraordinary women's and men's clothing, and a chorus of chants such as "Eejanaika" and "Choi Tose." The frenzy lasts for two nights and three days, or six nights and seven days, and the talismans that were dropped are placed in the precincts of shrines. In the public's mind, the dropping of the talismans represented a reform of society. The dropping of the talismans was deliberate, and it is thought that anti-shogunate patriots and shrine priests were involved, but there is no definitive proof. The dropping of the talismans caused the public to become even more engrossed in frenzy and madness than those who had intended it had expected, which gives us an idea of ​​the state the public found themselves in at the end of the Edo period. The chant "Eejanaika" was seen from Omi to the west, while in the east it was called the harvest dance, the talisman festival, the thanks festival, the thanks dance, the Choitosa festival, the Yaccharo festival, etc.

[Seijyuji Nishigaki]

"'Eejanaika' by Seiji Nishigaki (1973, Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)" ▽ "'Okagamairi and Eejanaika' by Toshio Fujitani (Iwanami Shinsho)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1867年（慶応3）夏から翌年の春にかけて、神符の降下を契機に東海、近畿地方を中心に起こった熱狂的乱舞を伴う民衆運動。その際の民衆の唱えたことば「ええじゃないか」が、この運動全体をさすようになった。1867年の7月から8月にかけて東海道筋の宿場、見付(みつけ)、御油(ごゆ)、吉田、藤川などで発生した。範囲は、東は江戸、西は広島、南は和歌山、四国の室戸(むろと)、北は京都府、兵庫県の日本海沿岸、それに信州松本あたりまで及んだ。この民衆運動は御札(おふだ)などの降下に始まり、その御札を祭壇に納め祀(まつ)る。祭壇の前での祝宴と大盤ぶるまい、非日常的な女装・男装の男女の狂乱状態、彼らの唱えことばとしての「ええじゃないか」とか「ちょいとせ」などの大合唱と続く。狂乱状況は二夜三日あるいは六夜七日などで終わり、降下した御札は神社の境内などに納められる。民衆の意識としては、この御札の降下に世直しをみていた。御札類の降下は人為的になされたものであり、それには倒幕派の志士、神宮の御師(おし)などが関与したものと思われるが、いまだ確証はない。民衆が御札の降下により、それを意図した側の考えた以上に熱狂、狂乱のうちにのめり込んでいった点に幕末の民衆の置かれていた状態をうかがうことができる。なお、「ええじゃないか」という唱えことばは近江(おうみ)から西にみられ、東ではこれを豊年踊、御札祭、おかげ祭、おかげ踊、チョイトサ祭、ヤッチャロ祭などとよんでいた。

［西垣晴次］

『西垣晴次著『ええじゃないか』（1973・新人物往来社）』▽『藤谷俊雄著『おかげまいりとええじゃないか』（岩波新書）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例