Abstract
Many ancient documents refer to events held yearly. In China, these include the Shijing （seventh month）, the Liji （monthly proceedings）, the Dadai Liji （almanac）, the Simin Yueling and Yi Zhou Shu （time and monthly proceedings）, the Jingchu Suishiji and Guanzi （holidays）, the Lüshi Chunqiu （twelve parts of the year）, the Huainanzi （seasonal regulations）, and the Sancai Tuhui （time proceedings）. In Japan, these include the Honcho Gatsuryo, Ryocho Jirei, Nihon Saijiki, Toto Saijiki, and Kujo Nenchu Gyoji. By reading these documents, we can learn what took place at what times during the year, but we have no way of knowing what took place at what time of day. However, the mid early modern text of the shomei inscription at the former Kurobane Castle （in Shimotsuke Province, now Tochigi Prefecture） indicates the daytime activities of the common people hour by hour. Furthermore, the Sosui Kakei political historical materials of the former Kurobane clan, established in the late early modern period, include records of the actions that were to be taken by the domain lords at specific hours. This study addresses the records of the common people’s daytime activities by the hour within the shomei inscription at the former Kurobane Castle, referring to the Sosui Kakei and alternate names for the Asian zodiac in order to decipher the records using specialized sinological （Chinese studies） methods. This process has resulted in the clarification of the common people’s daytime activities in the former Kurobane domain hour by hour in the mid–late early modern period.
