(解説文要約)
坑内に坑木を運び入れている男を描いた作品です。
天井が低いため、肩に担ぐのではなく脇に抱えての運搬です。坑木の使い方も描かれています。
クサビは坑木が天井をしっかり支える役割の他、
重圧がかかった場合にキシミ音で落盤の前兆を知らせる役割も果たしていました。
そのため、クサビが打たれていない柱を、ヤマの人びとは坊主柱と呼び嫌っていました。
また、右から二番目に描かれている柱はタヌキ柱と呼ばれ、
細い方を上部に使い、しかもクサビが使われていないものです。
ヤマの人びとはこのことをタヌキが坑木に化けたものだといい、これも嫌っていました。
This is a painting of a worker carrying a pit prop into the pit.
The ceiling is too low for him to carry it on his shoulders, so he is holding the prop in his arms.
The illustration above him shows how props were used in the pit.
Wedges were used not only to hold pillars still, but also as a warning sign of roof falls.
When a great amount of pressure was placed on the wedge, it made a squeaking sound which warned of collapse.
That's why pillars without wedges were detested. Miners called them "Bozu-Bashira".
The second pillar from the right side was also detested by miners. This type was called "Tanuki-Bashira".
The thinner end of the prop should be used for the base and the thicker end for the top,
but this one is the opposite, even without a wedge.
People called this type of pillar Tanuki-bashira because they believed these pillars were Tanukis,
the raccoon dogs of Japan who disguised themselves as pillars to trick miners.