Page 235 - Changing Living Spaces

Agricultural Crises Due to Flood, Drought, and Lack of Sunshine

1,375

1,1

0,825

0,55

0,275

0
May(4) June(5) July(6) August(7)

Good Harvest 1798 Drought 1799
Figure 8 Average Monthly Weather Index Values of a Good Harvest Year in 1798
and a Drought Year in 1799
Source Original digitised database from Amakusa-cho Kyoiku-iinkai (1985–1998);
UkM, Ueda Yoshiuzu Diaries.

was explored. The rainy days then continued for some time. In August,
there were two weeks of sunny days. Although the rainy days began af-
ter August 23, drought damage was noted in the diary on August 23 (July
23 of the lunar calendar). This happened too late for the rice plants, which
had already died.
It is clear that the timing of rainy and fair weather was crucial in avoid-
ing agricultural crises. Drought can be avoided by having the desired
amount of rainfall each year; thus, people developed various rituals to
produce rain. A good harvest could be the result of a lucky combination
and good timing between rain and sunshine. Even in 1798, a relatively
good harvest year, two rainmaking rituals took place in August, because
the rice harvest is always uncertain as it depends on weather conditions.

Flooded Paddy Fields in 1803 and a Recovery in 1804
According to the descriptions in the diaries, several episodes of heavy
rains within ten days caused flooding in 1803. After heavy rains on April

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