History of Asia

Did a certain technique from the Warring States period lead to the rebellion of Heihachiro Oshio? ??

It is often said that the technology will develop due to the war in the east and west. From the Internet to digital cameras, portable preserved foods, microwave ovens to the aviation industry, and even pencils.

It is no exception in Japan. The fact that the technology cultivated during the Warring States period changed its shape and became widespread during the Edo period put pressure on the finances of the shogunate. This time, I would like to focus on the technology cultivated during the Warring States period and see how the Edo period has changed.

What is the technology of the Warring States period that was popular at the beginning of the Edo period?

During the Warring States period, each daimyo focused on mine development to secure military funds and raw materials for weapons to support military power. By diverting this mine development technology, the development of hydraulic control and irrigation canals will dramatically advance . ..

Due to its geographical location, many typhoons come to Japan from summer to autumn.

At that time, it seems that river flooding occurred quite frequently in the lower reaches during the typhoon season.

Therefore, before the Middle Ages, rice was not cultivated in the lower reaches, but the development of new rice fields in the lower reaches of rivers and plains is possible due to the infrastructure development (hydraulic control and irrigation canals) during the Edo period. strong> became.

What Nitta Development has brought

Naturally, the area of ​​cultivated land will increase. Furthermore, due to the widespread use of agricultural tools such as the Bichu hoe, the area of ​​cultivated land was 1.63 million town walks at the beginning of the 17th century, but 100 years later it was 2.97 million town walks ... nearly doubled doing. Of course, expanding the area of ​​cultivated land leads to an increase in rice yield and promotes lower rice prices . ..

In addition, commercial crops have developed due to the new use of land. .. Handicraft production is also widespread As a result, the monetary economy has penetrated even in rural areas . I will continue to do it.

Due to the diversification and centralization of agriculture and stable management, large families have become single-married small families ... In other words, the number of independent families has increased while conducting small-scale agriculture. Farmers knew the fear of famine and often saved excess crops, but with the penetration of the monetary economy, there were more cases where they gave up trying to change to money while the rice price was high. It led to a situation where famine was likely to occur without realizing it.

Depletion of mining resources

In the early Edo period, the shogunate also acquired a lot of mining resources as a remnant of the Warring States period, so the resources were abundant. This is because mines such as Sado Kinzan, which mined 400 kg of gold and 40 tons of silver at its peak, were under direct control. But resources are not forever. In the middle of the Edo period, output begins to decline.

As of 1730, the ratio of annual tribute to the revenue of the Shogunate was about 64%. It dropped to about 39% in 1843. The reason why the amount of annual tribute itself has not changed (or even increased) but the ratio has decreased is probably due to the drop in rice prices. On the other hand, expenditures naturally increased due to the rise in prices due to the development of commerce and industry. We will overcome financial difficulties with debt from merchants and profits from recasting money.

Development of monetary economy and transformation of rural areas

The shogunate was forced to reform as the shogunate gradually became poor due to the combination of the penetration of the monetary economy and the decline in the production of resources. Shogun Yashiro Yoshimune Tokugawa Of the so-called three major reforms of the Edo period, " Kyoho Reform " (From 1716) ”has begun.

The annual tribute increase measures at this time determined the difference between rich and poor in rural areas. Landowner system by buying the land that the poor farmers gave up (it was originally prohibited, but it was possible to pledge the land ⇒ because it was possible to let go due to the circumstances of the quality flow) Is established I will continue to do it.

The wealthy farmers hired servants to directly manage the farm, and some of them entered the commercial field with their accumulated wealth. Poor farmers who fell into one of the tenants flowed into cities such as Edo and Osaka as low-ranking people It is said that he did.

Changes in Ikki Ikki

From the above flow, major social changes have occurred in rural areas, and along with that, Ikki Ikki The way it should be is also changing.

Representative over-the-counter type :A rebellion that was often seen in the 17th century when representatives of villages such as lords appealed to lords and deputies.

Sou Hyakusho Ikki :All farmers abandon against the increase in annual tribute.

All Clan Ikki if it covers the entire clan territory Called.

Up to this point, the number of requests is limited to a certain extent because it is a request regarding "collection of annual tribute". It's been a little different.

"Murakata uproar (Pursuing the injustices of village officials and wealthy farmers) ”.

A sign of disagreement in interests within the village, that is, the impact of farmer stratification It can be said. The number of times will increase due to requests other than annual tribute.

In such a world, in the latter half of the 18th century, Tenmei's Great Famine And earthquake , Mt. Asama eruption Natural disasters such as will continue. Furthermore, Tanuma Okitsugu Bribery frequently occurs due to the harmful effects of heavy commerce policy It is a situation where the dissatisfaction of the common people is increasing. Rehabilitation where the violent character of the lower class people, who are gradually affected by rising prices, has intensified. Ikki for the purpose of And broken Has increased.

Outbreak of the Great Famine of Tenpo

Heavy rains, floods and cold summers overlap national famine from 1833 to 1839 Will occur. Poor farmers in rural areas and low-ranking people in urban areas starve to death. Naturally, Ikki and Uchikowashi are increasing To do. Especially in Osaka, it seems that 150 to 200 people die of starvation every day. Of course, many of these starvation dead are poor farmers who have flowed in from rural areas.

In this tragedy, a former official of the Shogunate and a Yangming scholar Oshio Heihachiro Has moved.

Although he proposed the relief of the people to the magistrate's office, he refused to sell his own books and tried to survive, but he decided to revolt when he saw the important shogunate and a wealthy merchant trying to send Osaka's rice to Edo. He gets a weapon and rises in 1837 with his students.

* The person in charge of the Osaka Magistrate's Office at that time was Rōjū, Tadakuni Mizuno . He is the younger brother of (the central figure in the reform of Tenpo).

In the end, it was suppressed in just half a day, but the influence of the rebellion by the former bakushin was great, and the national scholar Ikuta Yorozu Attacked the Jinya in the name of Oshiomon's younger brother Ikuta Manran It seems that Ikki Ikki, who resonated with Oshio's ideas, occurred in various places. Not only in Osaka, but also in Edo, there are frequent breaks, and we are gradually entering a disturbing era.

The situation in Japan during the Edo period is like that. After this, a ship from a foreign country came to Japan and succumbed to external pressure, but it was not the case that the external pressure alone was the cause of the defeat. It is.