【三之亟】の見どころ紹介（文机編）
いつも三之亟をご利用いただきありがとうございます。
本日は三之亟ので見られる、昭和年代の生活用品「文机」のご紹介です。
Today, we would like to introduce a “writing desk.”
文机とは床に座って使う低い木製の机のこと。
勉強、読書、手紙を書いた卓で、座って使うことから、座机とも呼ばれています。
A writing desk is a low wooden desk used for sitting on the floor.
It is also called a za-desu because it is a table for studying, reading,
and writing letters and is used for sitting.
現代の家庭で子供に文机を与えて勉強させることはほとんどありませんが
学習机などと違い、文机は脚を折りたたむことで狭いスペースに収納できたり、
別の部屋への移動も簡単にでき、椅子を使う机に比べて圧迫感がなく、
狭い日本の住宅事情の理にかなったとても便利な家具なのです。
Modern families rarely give their children writing desks to study.
Unlike a study desk, a writing desk can be stored in a small space
by folding its legs,They can be easily moved from one room to another,
and they are less oppressive than desks with chairs,
It is a very convenient piece of furniture that makes sense for
Japan’s cramped housing conditions.
最近では床に座ってパソコンを使う人のためにパソコンデスクとして
売っている場合もあり、何でもデジタルで済ませる今日では、
紙と筆を用意し、文机に向かって手紙をしたためるのも新鮮かもしれません。
Recently, it is sometimes sold as a computer desk for people
who sit on the floor to use a computer.
In today’s digital age, everything is done digitally,
In this day and age when everything is done digitally,
it may be refreshing to have a piece of paper and a brush and
sit at a writing desk and write letters.
＜歴史的背景＞
・平安時代初期に登場した文机。はじめは寺院での写経や説法、宮中・官庁などでの
行事といった公の場で使われていました。
The writing desk appeared in the early Heian period (794-1185).
At first, they were used for public occasions such as sutra copying
and preaching at temples and events at the imperial court and
government offices.
In the late Heian Period, they were used by aristocrats.
・平安時代後期になると貴族たちの個人用として使われだし、
甲板〔こういた〕（机の上面の板）の両端に筆返しとよばれる、
筆や巻紙が落ちないように勾配や縁をつけたものが施された文机がありましたが、
これは位の高い人たちのみが使うことを許されていました。
In the late Heian period, they were used by aristocrats for
their personal use,The desk is attached to the top of the desk
by two boards called “koita” (top board of the desk),
which are called “brush stools”,The writing desk had a sloping edge
on both sides of the top board to prevent brushes and scrolls
from falling out,Only people of high rank were allowed to use these desks.
・鎌倉時代以降、文机は僧侶の間で盛んに使われるようになり、
赤や黒の漆で塗り分けられたりメッキが施されて、
実用面だけでなく美しさも追求されました。
From the Kamakura period (1185-1333) onward, writing desks were
widely used by Buddhist monks,
They were painted with red or black lacquer or plated,
They were painted with red or black lacquer and plated to add not
only practicality but also beauty.
・江戸時代に入ると、庶民の子供たちも読み書きや算盤を習うようになり、
寺子屋や私塾が発達し、文机も大衆家具として普及しました。
In the Edo period (1603-1867), common children learned to read,
write, and do arithmetic,In the Edo period, common people’s
children learned to read, write, and do arithmetic,
and private schools such as terakoya and private schools developed,
and writing desks became popular furniture.
＜素材＞
・材料：木目が鮮明で美しい欅〔けやき〕や、今では手に入りにくい落葉樹の栓〔せん〕。
・製法：蟻組〔ありくみ〕といわれる、凸凹をつけた板で釘を使わず、
前板と側板を組み合わせる手法など、高度な技術が取り入れられている。
・仕上げ：木目の美しさを十分に生かされるよう何度も漆が塗り重ねられます。
このようにして作られた文机は一生使えるほど丈夫で長持ちします。
Materials: beautiful zelkova wood with a clear grain,
and deciduous wood stoppers, which are hard to find nowadays.
The method of manufacturing: The method of combining the front and
side boards, known as “dovetailing,” is a method that does not use nails
and uses uneven boards,The technique of combining the front and side panels
without using nails is called “arigumi,” a technique that incorporates advanced techniques.
Finishing: Lacquer is applied over and over again to bring out the beauty of the wood grain.
A writing desk made in this way is strong and durable enough to last a lifetime.
最近は椅子に座るタイプの机を使用する人が多いため、文机の需要は減少しましたが、
今も文机は工芸品として職人の手によって作られています。
Although the demand for writing desks has decreased recently
because many people nowadays use desks that sit on chairs,
writing desks are still crafted as art objects,
また、写真の中で机の上にある書物は日本人の学んだ「論語」や「老子」などの古書です。
The books on the desk in the photo are old books such as
“The Analects” and “Lao Tzu,” which Japanese people studied.
是非当館にお泊りの際は、こういった家具や書物に触れ、歴史を体感してみてください。
When you stay at the hotel, please take a look at the furniture
and books and experience the history.
赤倉温泉 湯守の宿 三之亟