The Pillar with No Wedge on It and the Pillar Stood Topside up, Which Miners Still Hate the Most Today
1958 - 1963

Genkon demo Yamabito ga Mottomo Kirau Bozu-bashira ni Tanuki-bashira
[The Pillar with No Wedge on It and the Pillar Stood Topside up, Which Miners Still Hate the Most Today]
21.1 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

The right and left pillars are bozu-bashira (pillar with no wedge on it) and tanuki-bashira (raccoon dog taking the form of a pillar, i.e. the pillar stood topside up with no wedge on it) respectively, which miners still hate the most today. It is because these pillars do not stand firmly and miners cannot notice the warnings of roof falls without the wedges on the pillars. (Today miners at some pits sharpen the feet of the pillars used at points where the bottoms of the roadways are soft.)

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" Song
Kitte toru no ga Chokichi Mekuri.
Ore wa kirazu ni hashira utsu.
Gotton!

You cut and take cards in Chokichi Mekuri (hanafuda game).
But I stand pillars without cutting them.
Gotton (Clang)! (Interjected chant)

Lettering on Pillars
Right: bozu-bashira
Center: masa-bashira: pillar stood normally with a wedge
Left: tanuki-bashira (saka-bashira): topside-up pillar


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28｜29 | 30 |   Next 10 Items>>

28／306