A comparative research into the consciousness of seeing children as a treasure and the culture of child-rearing in agricultural villages in Japan in 18th and 19th centuries ; Using materials of Diaries, Account Books of Gifts and Local Documents.

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The aim of this research is to investigate the characteristics of the passion to children and careful child-rearing in agricultural village families in Modern Japan. We focused on the life records of children and families in autobiographies and investigated the relationship in families where children played very important roles to succeed the property and business. Materials we deal with are, Yorozugoto-oboegakichou and Takasekidounikki, the former is an autobiography written by a village merchant Tsunoda Tozaemon, living in Okuaizu, an area of heavy snowfall in Tohoku, the latter is an autobiography written by a Nagatomi Sadamure, living along Ibo river where was very warm and convenient for transportation. The situation of those two were quite different, we compared the child-rearing traditions and customs and the characteristics of viewpoints to children. We can suggest the width and depth of consciousness about children and child-rearing during 260 years in Tokugawa era, and can point out the significance for the child-rearing in modern age.