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Hawk

Bird of prey admired since ancient times for its dignified appearance; its image was used in various family crests and designs

“Hawk” is a generic name for the small-sized species of birds that belong to the family Accipitridae. The large-sized species are referred to with the collective name “eagle,” but there is no strict distinction between hawks and eagles. Compared to eagles, in general hawks have a narrower span of the wings and tail, and their wings have pointed tips. Hawks are equipped with sharply hooked beaks, and large talons. They are diurnal birds of prey that hunt and feed on birds and mammals, and occasionally other animals as well. Usually, they build nests on trees or cliffs, although the eastern marsh harrier species make nests on the ground and in reed beds. There are approximately 20 hawk species in Japan, including the mountain hawk-eagle, the eastern marsh harrier, the Eastern Buzzard, and the Japanese sparrowhawk. Since ancient times, the hawk has been admired for its dignified appearance, which made it a beloved subject of numerous literary works and paintings. There are several well-known haniwa (clay figurines excavated from burial mounds) that represent eagles. There are also numerous folklore traditions related to hawks. Particularly well known is the legend of Yuriwaka Daijin (Minister Yuriwaka), who was betrayed by one of his retainers and was abandoned on a solitary island, but was saved by his faithful hawk. The sport of hunting with trained hawks, also known as hawing, has a long history, and was practiced in ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. In Japan, as well, records in the chapter on the reign of Emperor Nintoku in Nihonshoki (“The Chronicles of Japan”) point to an occasion on which hawks were released to hunt pheasants in Mozuno. In Manyoshu (“Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”), there is a poem about hunting with hawks written by Yakamochi Otomo. Emperor Saga (768–842) personally compiled Shinshu Yokyo, a book of techniques for hunting with hawks, and wrote in detail about hawk appraisal and breeding methods. Later, hawking gained broad popularity among the court nobles and the warrior class. Ieyasu Tokugawa, in particular, was well-known for his love of hawking, and there are historical records about numerous hunting events he organized in and around Edo, and about a crane caught during hawking which he presented to the Imperial Court.

Hawks were perceived as symbols of military power, so game caught in hunting with hawks was treasured as an expression of respect and good wishes and as a gift in the samurai families. It became an established custom for the Shogun to present cranes, pheasants, and other game caught by his hawks to the feudal lords, and for the feudal lords together with their family to relish the gift and celebrate the Shogun’s longevity. Cranes personally caught and presented by the Shogun were called Otaka no tsuru (lit. “hawk cranes”). Shorui Awaremi no Rei, an edict prohibiting cruelty to all living things issued by the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, resulted in the temporary banning of hunting with hawks, but the custom was restored during the rule of the 8th Shogun Yoshimune Tokugawa, and a system was established to regulate places where feudal lords could practice hawking, hawkers, and hawk hunting wear. Hunting with hawks was performed as an annual event of the shogunate until the end of the Edo period (1868). 

Related People, Things and Events

Books

E-maki (illustrated scrolls) that depict falconry by the shogunate

Takasho (books on ancient practices regarding falconry)

Related Works

Hawk drawings in paintings

Hawks in ukiyo-e paintings

Hawk drawings on craft works and artifacts

Clothing with hawk patterns

Videos

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions Holding Related Materials

  • The National Diet Library (NDL), founded in 1948, is the library which belongs to the Diet. The NDL assists the activities of the National Diet. The Library collects and conserves materials and information both from Japan and abroad, serving as a foundation of knowledge and culture and providing library services to administrative and judicial entities and Japanese citizens.

  • The National Archives is an organization for preserving, as historical materials, public records and archives of importance transferred from state organs, and providing them for public use, with the aim of achieving appropriate preservation and use of such public records and archives that are kept in the National Archives or state organs as historical materials.

  • As Japan’s representative museum, Tokyo National Museum collects, preserves, displays, and researches the cultural properties of Asia with a focus on Japan, and also provides educational programs.

  • Kyoto National Museum collects, preserves, displays, researches and provides educational programs focusing on cultural properties from Heian- through to Edo- period Japan, when the capital was located there.

  • The University of Tokyo is promoting the construction of digital archives. The University of Tokyo Archives, The University Museum, Information Technology Center, and University of Tokyo Library System collaborate on this project.

  • 1882(明治15)年に農商務省所管の博物館付属施設として開園した、日本で最初の動物園。猛禽類ゾーンに、タカ・ワシの仲間を見ることができる。

  • 北海道旭川市にある日本最北の動物園。北海道産動物舎のクマタカの展示場所では、クマタカの生息環境である森林を再現し、木々の間を飛翔するクマタカを観察することができる。

External Links

  • 科研費による「鷹・鷹場・環境研究会」の公式サイト。会の運営する研究会や各種データベース、研究紀要などを見ることができる。「鷹・鷹場・環境研究会」は、日本列島における鷹を頂点とする生態系を維持するための環境条件が、いかなる相互作用のもとに保全されていたのかという問題を解明するために、江戸時代の諸藩に設定されていた鷹場に着目し、鷹場環境を構成する個々の条件(環境因子)を政治・制度・生活・文化・空間などの視点から総合的に検討し、生物多様性を守り、持続可能な社会を維持するための確かな「知」を歴史学の立場から発信することを目的としている。  

  • 国内最大の鳥類標本を所蔵する山階鳥類研究所による、剥製標本のデータベース。標本とそれに付けられているラベルの撮影データとラベルの記載内容がデータベース化されている。

  • 公益社団法人日本動物園水族館協会ウェブサイト。「飼育動物検索」から、タカを飼育する動物園の検索ができる。

  • 東京国立博物館による電子展示。「鷹型埴輪」についての解説をみることができる。

  • 平成30年5月23日~6月24日、名古屋市博物館で開催された企画展示の紹介。

References

  1. 「鷹」「鷹狩り」「鷹場」の項
  2. 「鷹」「鷹狩り」の項
  3. 「鷹」「鷹狩り」の項
  4. 「鷹」「鷹狩り」「鶴御成(つるのおなり)」の項目
  5. 小学館『万葉集』巻11
  6. 小学館『源氏物語』行幸