Terakoya in the Edo Period - The Origin of Education for Common People
*Tap words (smartphone/tablet) or hover over them (PC) to see info.
江戸時代の寺子屋 - 庶民教育の原点
江戸時代(1603-1868)の寺子屋は、庶民の子どもたちが学ぶための教育機関でした。主に読み書きや算盤を教えていましたが、これらは商売や日常生活に必要な実用的な知識でした。教師は「手習い師匠」と呼ばれ、多くは侍や町人でした。授業料は安く、貧しい家庭の子どもでも通うことができました。
寺子屋の特徴は、年齢に関係なく、個々の能力に応じて学べることでした。また、道徳教育も重視され、「往来物」という教科書を使って、礼儀作法や人としての心得を学びました。
寺子屋のおかげで、江戸時代末期には庶民の識字率が世界的に見ても高い水準に達しました。これは、明治時代以降の近代化の基盤となり、日本の教育の発展に大きく貢献したのです。
Terakoya in the Edo Period - The Origin of Education for Common People
Terakoya in the Edo period were educational institutions for children of common people. They mainly taught reading, writing, and abacus, which were practical knowledge necessary for business and daily life. Teachers were called "tenarai-shisho" and were often samurai or townspeople. Tuition was affordable, allowing children from poor families to attend.
A characteristic of terakoya was that children could learn according to their individual abilities, regardless of age. Moral education was also emphasized, and students learned etiquette and human principles using textbooks called "orai-mono."
Thanks to terakoya, by the end of the Edo period, the literacy rate among common people had reached a high level by global standards. This became the foundation for modernization after the Meiji era and greatly contributed to the development of education in Japan.
*Translated by AI
*Content and word info are for learning purposes and may not be 100% accurate.