History of sickness and medical art１: Introduction

 

＜　Tomogram of brain by MRI　＞

This series mainly deal with the world from ancient times to medieval times.

How have people been related to the sickness?

How have people developed the medical art?

We can understand a side of human development by seeing it.

The people looked for all means to get away from the pain of sickness.

By advancing the understanding of sickness, the causal explanation was changed from the mysterious things to the science.

This had the big influence on the human society.

The medical art improved a whole lot.

On the other hand, a lot of superstitions and misunderstandings were produced and it came to cause the misfortune too.

このシリーズは、主に古代から中世までの世界を題材にします。

人々が病とどのように関わり、医術を発展させて来たかを見ることにより、人類発展の重要な側面が浮かび上がって来ます。

病苦から逃れる為に、人々はあらゆる手段を模索して来ました。

病への理解が進むことにより、因果論が神秘的なものから科学へと変わり、人間社会に大きな影響を与えることになった。

医術は長足の進歩を遂げることになりました。

一方で、多くの迷信や誤解が生みだされ、災いをもたらすことにもなりました。

＜　Pazuzu was the king of the demons in Assyrian. 　＞

The sickness in human history

The fear to skin diseases or infectious diseases planted deep-rooted idea, impurity or divine punishment, in much society.

This was often drawn in the bible and the sutra of world religion, and the idea (waste matter) living deep-rooted also in India and Japan.

Although the plague raged in Europe in the 14th century, it became a trigger of the immigration into East Europe and the Jew discrimination, furthered the Reformation afterward.

The sickness keeps having a large influence on the society, the culture, and the human race.

Moreover, The sickness will be one of the most important motive to which people seek God's help.

病と人類史

皮膚病や伝染病への恐怖は、多くの社会に根深い観念－穢れや神罰、を植え付けました。

このことは宗教の聖典や経典によく描かれ、インドや日本でもその観念（残滓）は根深く生き続けています。

１４世紀、ヨーロッパでペストが猛威を振るいましたが、これは東欧への移民、ユダヤ人差別、後の宗教改革への引き金になりました。

病は社会や文化、人類に多大な影響を与え続けています。

また、人々が救いを求める最重要な動機の一つでしょう。

＜　Hippocrates was an ancient Greek physician. 　＞

The medical art in human history

The medical art has spread to the people by gradually breaking down the prejudice and the superstition, and getting more scientific.

In that process, the medical art was under restraint of the society, the culture, and the religion.

On the other hand, the medical art was obtained the help of them, and then developed.

Moreover, in order that an advanced civilization may permeate underdeveloped areas, having a more potent on cure than before was important.

The medical art developed together with science, and further deepened human understanding.

Next time, we look at the oldest situation of the sickness and the cure on the earth.

医術と人類史

医術は偏見や迷信を徐々に打破し、科学的になることで民衆に広まった。

その過程で、医術は社会や文化、宗教の束縛を受けながら、一方で助けも得て発展した。

また後進地域に先進文明が浸透するには、より効果の高い医術を有することが重要であった。

医術の発展は科学と共にあったが、それ以上に人間の理解を深めた。

次回は、地球上最も古い、病気と治療の原初の様子を見ます。

New fables of Aesop ５ : monkeys in two valleys

 

Long, long ago in a certain place, there were a black valley and a red valley.

In the past, two groups of monkeys lived in both valleys, but there is nobody in the red valley now.

Let's look back on old times a little.

昔々あるところに、黒谷と赤谷がありました。

かつて猿は両方の谷に住んでいたのですが、今、赤谷には一匹もいません。

少し昔を振り返ります。

  

Once a lot of persimmon trees were in two valleys, and the chestnut trees were less than it.

The monkeys liked the persimmon, because they can easy eat tastily.

Monkeys in the red valley scattered eaten persimmon seeds on the ground.

The red valley became full of the persimmon trees before long.

In autumn, ripe persimmons filled the valley with red color.

The monkeys swore about the monkeys of the black valley.

“They are the stupid guys who do not know the pleasure, because they are growing many distasteful chestnuts despite hardships.”

かつて二つの谷は柿の木が多く、栗の木は少なめでした。

猿は、美味しいくて食べやすい柿の木を好みました。

赤谷の猿達は、食べた柿の種をそこら中に撒き散らしました。

やがて赤谷は柿の木で一杯になりました。

秋になると、赤く熟れた柿が谷を埋めつくしました。

その猿達は黒谷の猿達をののしりました。

「奴らは栗の木を苦労して育てて、楽しみを知らない馬鹿な奴らだ！」

On the other hand, many of monkeys in the black valley were sharing a certain thought.

“We do not reduce the chestnut trees as well as the persimmon trees.”

Regrettably, there were fellow that planted persimmon trees and monopolized persimmons.

However, all together, they cracked down on the transgressor.

They cultivated both of trees so that it may become the same in number.

一方、黒谷の猿達の多くはある思いを共有していました。

「柿の木同様に栗の木を絶やさない。」

残念なことに、柿の実を一人占めにする者や、柿の木をこっそり植える者も絶えませんでした。

しかし皆で、違反者を取り締まり、両方の木をほぼ同数になるように維持し育てました。

The sign of the change has begun to be seen in the red valley before long.

The soil was being infertile from overwork, and then the persimmons have decreased little by little.

However, everybody thought that a good harvest would come sometime soon.

One year, Rain decreased and the persimmon became bad harvest.

In addition, a severe winter came and was a longer interval.

Their foods were exhausted at last.

When spring came, the monkeys disappeared from the red valley once for all.

On the other hand, the monkeys of the black valley were able to eat the preserved chestnut little by little.

Thanks to this, they were able to get over the winter.  

In this way, bright and dark sides of two valleys separated.

A patriarch monkey of the black valley always said.

“If we endure a little now, and make efforts to bring up it, we will not become unhappy in the future.”

やがて赤谷に変化の兆しが見え始めたのです。

無理が祟って地味が弱り、柿の実が少しずつ減って来たのです。

しかし、いずれ豊作が訪れるだろうと、高をくくっていました。

ある年、雨が少なく柿は不作になり、追い打ちをかけるように厳しく長い冬が訪れました。

とうとう食料は尽きました。

春になると赤谷から猿の姿はこれを最後に見えなくなりました。

一方、黒谷では、栗を保存し、少しずつ食べて、その冬を乗り切ることが出来ました。

こうして二つの谷の明暗は別れたのです。

黒谷の長老猿は常日頃、言っていたのです。

「私達は今少し我慢し、育てる努力をすれば、将来不幸になることが無い。」

False rumor, prejudice, blind spots ２; a rumor of the economy ２

This time, I show that an epoch-making theory is dangerous.

About "An exchange rate is decided by the ratio between the money supply of Japanese Yen and U.S. dollar."

This is a remark of the popular person of the group of reflation.

He says it is very easy to make weak yen, and central bank should print paper money rapidly.

He grieves, because the people who do not understand even such a thing do politics.

It is very simple and wonderful, or another.

今回は、画期的な理論の危うさを見ます。

「円と米国ドルの通貨量の比で為替レートは決まる」について

これは流行のリフレ派論客の発言です。

彼は円安に持って行くのは超簡単で、紙幣を刷れば良いだけだ。

こんなことすらわからない人々が政治をやっていると、嘆く。

非常にシンプルで素晴らしい、けれども・・・。

In the first place, why is the ratio of the money supply between two countries decided?

Is it a ratio of the national land and the population between the two countries?

Once, the world experienced a stagflation that proceeded simultaneously with a high inflation and a high unemployment, and each central bank controlled money supply in tandem with the economic growth.

Half a century ago, in addition, the American and European countries came into currency devaluation competition to get the advantage of domestic export, and the world economy was slowed down terribly.

To add to our concern, the expectation of the market price (animal spirit) controls most.

そもそも通貨量の比はどうして決まるのでしょうか？

両国の国土や人口の比率でしょうか？

かつて、高インフレと高失業率同時進行（スタグフレーション）を経験し、世界の中央銀行は経済成長に応じて通貨供給量をコントロールしてきました。

また欧米諸国は自国の輸出を有利するために通貨安競争に陥り、世界経済を失速させたことがあります。

さらにややこしいのは、相場の期待値（アニマルスピリット）が多くを左右するのです。

The current exchange market changes dramatically by a short of the exchange of one hedge fund, such as Thai Bhat suddenly tumbled down at 1997.

George Soros of the ringleader says.

“Sometime, because somebody noticed a weak point of Thai Bhat and would carry it out, I had only done it first.”

In conclusion, the exchange rate is a result of the dealings among the government, the central bank, speculators, and companies of each country.

今の為替市場は、１９９７年のタイ・バーツ暴落のように、１ヘッジファンドの空売りで劇的に変化してしまうのです。

その張本人のジョージ・ソロスは言います。

「誰かがタイ政府の運営不備に気がついてやるだろうから、私が最初にやっただけさ。」

結局、為替レートは各国の政府、中央銀行、投機家、企業らがしのぎを削り、悪戦苦闘した結果なのです。

We have to pay attention to any debater who say simple with certainty and talk exaggeratedly.

He only had said to an obese person, " Your levels of neutral fat are only 20% more than the national average."

A period of the graphs of his book was only a convenient period for him.

It was from 2007 to 2011 in the mentioned above graph.

We should understand the opinion while having doubt on the intention of an author.

単純に断定し、誇張する論者には注意が必要です。

それは、肥満の人に、「あなたは中性脂肪が平均より２０％多いだけだよ」と指摘しているに過ぎないなのです。

彼が本のグラフには都合の良い期間（上記グラフの２００７年～2011年）しか使われていません。

私達は、著者の意図や、信頼性を疑いながら理解すべきです。

False rumor, prejudice, blind spots ; a rumor of the economy 1

 

＜　Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe　＞

In this series, I will introduce some dangerous opinions that we accept everything on faith, and viewpoints that we don’t usually notice.

About “In world history, there had never been any nation was bankrupted for an accumulated debt.”

Many countries ruined in the past, but we didn’t surely hear the story that a nation was bankrupted for an accumulated debt.

However, many countries could not deal with increasing government expenses and meddled with every reckless measure and disappeared from the history finally.

このシリーズでは、鵜呑みにすれば危険な説や、日頃気づかない視点などを取り上げます。

「歴史上、累積債務で国家が潰れることは無かった」について

過去、多くの国は滅亡していったが、確かに累積債務により潰れた話は聞かない。

しかし、多くの国が増加一途の財政支出を賄えず、あらゆる無謀な策に手を出し、最後は歴史から消えて行きました。

＜　Hyperinflation in Germany　＞

The Roman Empire and the Edo government repeated a recoinage, and inflation became common. Indeed, there is only nothing.

Germany after World War I printed paper money too much and became the hyperinflation.

France of the Middle Ages performed a barratry, a tax increase, an enormous debt in order to over the financial lack.

The King didn’t pay the debt one-sidedly repeatedly.

The merchant who bought a special privilege invited an economic disparity and a rigidification of the economy.

And the government clerk who increased invited a severe raising tax.

These disordered and exhausted the society, and tormented the common people among other things.

It has been a part of the reason for an internal insurrection, a revolution, and being invaded.

In the end, a fate of the country would run out.

ローマ帝国や幕府は改鋳を繰り返し、インフレが日常化して行きました（それだけではないが）。

第一次大戦後のドイツは紙幣を刷りすぎてハイパーインフレになりました。

中世フランスでは財源不足を補う為に官職売買、増税、莫大な借金をした。

王は繰り返し一方的に金利と元金の踏み倒しを行った。

特権を買った商人や増えた官吏は、経済の硬直化と不平等、苛酷な増税につながった。

これらは社会を混乱・疲弊させ、とりわけ庶民を苦しめた。

このことが革命やファシズムを招き、また侵略される一因となり国の命運が尽きることになった。

＜　Financial crisis of Greece　＞

Almost all feudal domains and the Edo government at the Meiji Restoration didn’t pay the enormous debt (military currency), just like the Japanese Government after World War II.

After World War II, each country including an international organization and EU cooperated and came to help a debt of one country.

However, the country must accept the sudden poverty like Greece.

Furthermore, Will neighboring countries and the world help Japan having an enormous debt?

The history teaches us that reckless debt predisposition does not have the future.

There is not childlike economic theory that a nation can get in debt at will by.

Because there is not a pain if a reflationary policy go well, its result is happy, but becomes more miserable if it fail.

With the current economics, it is difficult to control an interest rate, inflation, and currency exchange.

Therefore a reflationary policy is a thing such as a kind of gambling.

明治維新の各藩や幕府、大戦後の日本政府も莫大な借金（軍票）を踏み倒した。

第二次世界大戦後は、国際機関やEUなど各国が連携し、一国の負債を助け合うようになりました。

しかし、その国はギリシャのように急激に訪れる困窮に耐えなければなりません。

ましてや、負債の規模が大きい日本を世界や隣国は助けてくれるでしょうか。

歴史は私達に、無謀な借金体質に未来がないことを教えています。

借金し放題の無邪気な経済理論はありません。

リフレ策はうまく行けば痛みが供はないので良いのですが、失敗すれば破綻が生じます。

現在の経済学では、金利やインフレ、為替を思い通りに制御するのは困難で、リフレ策は一種の博打のようなものです。

Birth of primitive art : A table of contents and abstract

I show the list of a series " Birth of primitive art “.

please look at  page of “ Birth of primitive art “.

連載「原初美術の誕生１～１７話」を一覧にしています。

どうぞ「原初美術の誕生」ページを見て下さい。

 

 　

　　　

　

　　

　　

The spring festival in Awaji island. ： In Ise Kuruma shrine ２

< The gold leaf of the portable shrine shines by reflecting sunlight. >

Following last time, I introduce a spring festival.

前回に続いて、春祭りを御案内します。

＜　A precinct of the shrine was full of families.　＞

There were many open-air stalls.

＜ One of the standard food is Takoyaki(octopus dumpling)　＞

＜　A girl is absorbed in scooping goldfish.　＞

＜　Children is punishing a Tengu(long-nosed goblin).　＞

＜　Children show mutually some snacks which they have been given.　＞

One day of the spring festival passed in this way.

The child and the family leave recollections, and the adult recalls vernal years.

The small town that had been placed between green mountains and the turquoise ocean became hot.

こうして春祭りの1日は、子供や家族には思い出、大人には青春が甦り、時は過ぎて行く。

緑濃い山と碧い海に挟まれた小さな町が熱くなりました。

The spring festival in Awaji island. ： In Ise Kuruma shrine 1

 

<  Danjiri  >

On May 5, this year, I went to the shrine in north Awaji.

“Danjiri” means a float of a festival.

There are Danjiri of about 300 in this island.

In this time, these parade from each town to a shrine everywhere.

今年5月5日、淡路市の神社に行きました。

この時期、島内では３百台もの「だんじり」が町から神社へと練り歩きます。

＜　Draugh- Danjiri　＞

Children play at the periphery of the Danjiri.

Children inside it have been sounding a drum and some bells.

子供達が周りで遊び、中では太鼓と鐘を打ち鳴らしている。

＜　Children draw a Danjiri.　＞

＜　Hutonn Danjiri. Hutonn means a Japanese-style bedding, is red thing on top of Danjiri. 　＞

Many bearers sway the Danjiri up and down, and two women beat time on top of it.

Saying “ cyo--sa,cyo--sa”

The festive mood was rising to fever pitch.

担ぎ手がだんじりを上下に揺らし、上では女子がはやし立てる。

「ちょーさ。ちょーさ。」と。

盛り上がる一時。

＜　bearers have grimace of pain　＞

Men drink alcohol, are sweating, and squeeze out voice and power.

The bearers become one with Danjiri. 　

.

男達は、酒を飲み、汗にまみれ、声と力を絞り出す。

担ぎ手が一つになるとき。]

＜　in the precincts of a shrine　＞

The bearers came front the shine and put Danjiri, then they faithfully drive off the ill luck.

Then, they recited praying for people's safety this year all together.

Next time is followed.

ひとしきり境内で練ると、神妙な面持ちで神主の厄払いを受ける。

その後、皆で今年1年を祈願し謡う。

次回に続きます。