韓国軽視論←韓国人の参加、大歓迎

室町時代以降のことだと何かで読んだ覚えがある。

The origins of eta occupational groups are shrouded in history. The most acceptable theory postulates that the concepts of pollution already exisiting in indigenous Shinto beliefs were some way modified while other ways reinforced by Buddhist concepts related to impurities attending the killing of animals and the eating of meat.

Indigenous beliefs, extending back before written records, emphasized ritual pollution and avoidance practices concerning blood and death. Animal slaughter was associated with certain rituals practiced by hereditary specialists. Those in any way involved with these rituals; those who performed tasks related to child birth, disease, or death; and those who worked with the products of slain animals, were subjected to various forms of social segregation.

Taboos against eating meat were established by the 8th century when the fusion of Shinto and Budhist beliefs concenring death was nominally complete. Early 8th century codes forbade inｔermarriage between freemen and slaves of specified occupation. Although later edicts banned slavery as such, attitudes regarding the contaminating nature of certain occupations reinforced these marital proscrptions and encouraged endogamy within groups that practiced thesae occupations.

Heian period records report that certain members of the kakibe, one of the peasan and artisan guilds not directly under Imperial control, were engaged in such "degrading occupation" as tomb-watch (contact with the dead) and birdcare(work with animals). It is thought by some that the term eｔa derived from etori (keepers of falcons used by the hunting nobility), but the etymology is not verified and is probably of folk origin. Kiyome was a less common term used interchangeably with eta, according to a 13th century document, to refer to street sweepers, well diggers, and craftsmen enjoined to certain temples.

Approaching the Tokugawa period, the term eta was loosely interchanged with hinin as the two principal categories of senmin. Castle towns emerging in the late Muromachi period were skirted with settlements of outcaste citizens who worked as armourers and engaged in backetry and the making of musical instruments, in addition to the more traditional outcaste occupations.
(Japan's MKinotiries: Minority Rights Group, London)

訳出はあと。