the Sanka; mountain nomads of Japan
Historical term for groups of itinerant people in mountainous regions of Japan, often associated with river work, hunting, and seasonal movement. The reading さんわ is rare and archaic.
Sanka is a term that once referred to people who lived while moving through mountainous areas of Japan.
I researched the customs of the Sanka in folklore materials.
Standard kanji form for the historical group.
Katakana spelling sometimes used in modern academic or explanatory contexts.
The exact origin is uncertain. The kanji 山 (mountain) and 窩 (den, hollow) suggest 'mountain den,' possibly referring to their transient dwellings. The term itself is historical and not commonly used in modern everyday language.