Sunday May 27, 2012

Falconry

Picture of the Day ( 20 )

Falconry
PHOTO BY DAVID WEBER

A hawk about to be set loose during a demonstration of Japanese traditional falconry at Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo.

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20 Comments

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  • 0

    neverknow2

    demonstration of Japanese traditional falconry

    Never of heard of this tradition before. It must have started in 1945 along with the long tradition of christmas in Japan.

  • 0

    Betzee

    I always associate falconry with the Middle East, didn't realize the Japanese had a traditional as well.

  • 0

    Betzee

    Falcons are often found in desert-based cultures because they can be trained to find food and bring it back (like many cats)!

  • 0

    cliffworks

    Falconry in Japan dates back to 1600 and perhaps earlier.

  • 0

    Chessnutroastin

    From: http://www.themodernapprentice.com/history.htm

    It is known that falcons were given as presents to Chinese princes as early as 2200 BC, but these may have been for pets and not for hunting. 200 BC - Japanese records note falcons given to Chinese princes 9th century - Japanese records mark the presence of women falconers

    And as cliffworks noted, it is well-noted that the Tokugawa shogunate and earlier enjoyed falconry and using birds to hunt.

  • 0

    Betzee

    And as cliffworks noted, it is well-noted that the Tokugawa shogunate and earlier enjoyed falconry and using birds to hunt.

    Thank you for this information!

  • 0

    The_True

    sure!! believe everything you read in japanese history books.

  • 0

    Betzee

    sure!! believe everything you read in japanese history books.

    Well here's a non-Japanese source for ya.

    Though I doubt falconry will displace golf in Japan, in Saudi Arabia how a man handles his bird is said to reveal a lot about his character. Falconry plays the same social function there as golf does elsewhere.

    Whatever its origins, the principles of falconry have remained largely unaltered since the first Japanese description of the training process in AD 355 (the last really big breakthrough was the introduction of the hood, brought back from the Middle East by returning crusaders).

    http://www.acountrylife.com/page.php?id=11

  • 0

    BlackFlag

    my grandad wears one of those traditional japanese hats

  • 0

    Farmboy

    Nice picture!

  • 0

    lovemeruforever

    In Australia, Cairns, I watched the owl flying show at the Zoo, it was fun and I was scared because the owl was flying close. I know it is Japanese traditional one, but I have never seen this hawk show before.

  • 0

    ptolemy

    I say we ask the falcons, people are notorious for revising history. Cool picture.

  • 0

    Triumvere

    Betzee, falconty was a tradtional past-time of European noblemen for centuries; its not just the ME.

    Nice picture, BTW.

  • 0

    Nessie

    Japanese traditional falconry

    Why is there always this lapse of word order?

  • 0

    ronindave

    hey, this is the photographer here! I just wanted to chime in and say chestnutroastin and cliffworks are correct in that falconry in japan goes way back. Falconry was one of Tokugawa Ieyasu favorite sports and the earliest written account is in the Nihon Shoki (early 8th Century) which claims falconry goes back to the Fourth Century. while that might be debatable, it's obvious that by the 8th century at least, falconry was a well established custom in Japan.

  • 0

    BlackFlag

    nice photo ronindave, send in more

  • 0

    Betzee

    Betzee, falconty was a tradtional past-time of European noblemen for centuries; its not just the ME.

    I didn't mean to imply otherwise. Only that in the desert, falcons are crucial to human survival owing to their hunting prowess.

  • 0

    Goldenhayabusa

    Well, There are great evidences like Ancient Excavated Materials from Japan suggests that possibly "The Falconry" has been already practiced that since 6th century in Japan.

    See the some pictures of tangible excavated proofs

    http://www.kintetsu.jp/kouhou/yamato/collection/img/shozouhin/20.jpg http://www12.wind.ne.jp/tomohm/htm/kodai_001.html http://ncjf.sakura.ne.jp/tangiblelist-e.htm see ya!

  • 0

    Goldenhayabusa

    it's from 6th centry in Japan http://ncjf.sakura.ne.jp/tangiblelist-e.htm http://www.kintetsu.jp/kouhou/yamato/collection/img/shozouhin/20.jpg http://www12.wind.ne.jp/tomohm/htm/kodai_001.html

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