The reform of curtain administration during the reign of Tokugawa Jizong, the eighth generation general of the Edo shogunate
Insurance reform(Japanese:きょうほうのかいかく）, i.eEdo Bakufu Eighth generationThe Grand General of YizhengTokugawa Yoshimune The reform of curtain politics during the reign.In the sixth year of Zhengde's reign (1716), the general's family gave up his heir and succeeded him as a virtuous marquis.Later, learning from the previous experience of vassal administration in the big and small vassals, the reform of enjoying security began.
During his tenure, Tokugawa Yoshizong streamlined the administrative structure and cutFlagbookAnd abolished the official position and salary of the flagHereditary systemAt the same time, he also made a lot of cutsRoyal Family。MilitarilyShogunateThe military readiness is lax, and Tokugawa Jizong has recoveredTsunayoshi Tokugawa The hunting of hawks was prohibited by the times, and the intensity of shogunate military training was strengthened.And reforms have been carried out in all aspects of the economy and civil affairs.Allow input andCatholicismRelevant foreign books.His greatest achievement is that he has stabilized the price of rice, thus making the society present a stable situation.Insurance reform andLenient reform、Tianbao reformIt is also called the three major reforms in the Edo era.
The Tokugawa shogunate ended the war chaos since the Warring States Period, completed the unification of the country, and established a locked country system, which provided a relatively stable environment for labor production.The level of productivity development has been constantly improving.In order to consolidate the feudal rule based on the small-scale peasant economy and ensure the income of tribute, Mu Fan tried to support the development of the owner peasants.In order to increase the source of annual tribute rice and actively reclaim land, local officials recruited farmers to reclaim wasteland and cultivate cash crops.By the middle period of Edo (1680-1716), the development level of agricultural productivity had made a great leap, and the agricultural productivity had almost doubled.During the reign of Emperor Qingchang in the early modern era, the total area of the country's fields was 1.5 million chobu, and the rice yield was 18 million stones. By the time of enjoying the insurance, the total area had increased to 3 million chobu and 30 million stones[1]。In addition to annual tribute rice and their means of subsistence, some farmers have surplus products, which creates conditions for the development of commodity economy.In addition, based on agriculture, the productivity of mining, industry and other industries has also developed rapidly.Due to the development of the commodity economy, the cost of living in the city has increased, and the samurai who rely on rice for a living have become increasingly poor.Shogunate、nameVassalsAlso due to increased expenditurefinancial crisis。Genroku General of the Five Dynasties (1688-1703)Tsunayoshi Tokugawa The shogunate during his administrationOvercoining, morecurrencyChaos,pricerise.[2]
The eighth generation general in the first year of Xiangbao (1716)Tokugawa Yoshimune Inherit the rank of general.During his reign, Japan's feudal rule was gradually shaken.The commodity economy based on the rapid development of agricultural and industrial productivity has developed very rapidly. The Machi class has risen, the rural class differentiation is very serious, the shogunate finance is in crisis, and the curtain vassal system is facing a series of contradictions.Tokugawa Yoshizong was a very enterprising person. As soon as he took office, he began to carry out reforms.[3]
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Politics
Shogunate system
After Tokugawa Yoshizong became a general, he attached great importance toa Chinese、If sent inAnd the three administrative organs that have always pursued such a shogunate leadership system, rather than relying on the right or left confidants to govern.But this is not a repeatTsunayoshi Tokugawa The old oneFudai daimyo United regimeShogunate politics。Tokugawa Jizong, assisted by the bureaucrats of the old and middle aged, ruled by himself.Traditionally, the leadership mechanism was implemented after the policy was decided by the Laozhong Conference, and the daily government affairs were undertaken by the Laozhong who was on duty every month. However, Tokugawa Yoshitsung appointed the Laozhong as "financial officer" and granted financial authority.As for the "investigation and implementation", they are divided into judicial officers and financial officers, with the focus on financial officers, who command the national "acting officials".Since then, a large number of deputy officials have been replaced, and the officials in the "deputy officials" agencies have also been updated.This is another step forward along the Tokugawa Gangji reform.[4]
In addition, the salary of the officials and deputy officials in the office that is mainly responsible for civil affairs relations is determined according to their positions, which is called the "high enough system".We will promote talents regardless of family relations, and implement the system of stipulating family salary according to the position.[4]If the assignment is to be carried out by the person with 3000 stone of Jialu according to the regulations, the flag of 1000 stone can receive 2000 stone of difference subsidy when it is to carry out the assignment.[5]
Visual mounting box
In the first month of 1718 (three years of insurance)UenoOn his way home, Jizong received a direct appeal from the Machi people.Mufu tied him up immediately, but Jizong blamed Mufu and accepted his appeal.
Tokugawa Jizong's attitude towards direct appeal is so tolerant, but he not only believes that accepting direct appeal is a virtue, but also should form a system.So we set up an "eye safety box" in the assessment office to listen to the voice of the people.Those with irregularities shall file a lawsuit in the form of letters, with their names and addresses written.The "eye safety box" is firmly sealed and only the general is qualified to open it.It is said that at the beginning, Qiben and imperial family members could also submit letters to appeal, but later, "Mu'an Box" became a tool for them to compete for power and gain, criticize and repel each other.In a rage, the general canceled theirdirect appealingqualifications.
The policies resulting from the "Muangbo" include the establishment of the "Little Ishikawa Health Center" and the establishment of the "Edo Town Fire Extinction".
Economics
Commercial control
The Tokugawa screen vassal system is based on the feudal system of agriculture.Farmers (the people) bleed and sweat every day, work hard in the fields, and pay taxes to the lord (daimyo, shogunate, etc.);As long as the lord sympathizes with the farmers, he can maintain the stable operation of the system and maintain social peace.For the lords who strive for the sustainability of the system, those businessmen who actually participate in the market circulation of surplus products and profit from it should be vigilant.The reason is that the development of the non directional monetary economy has involved farmers and led to a large number of bankruptcies. Occasionally, a few farmers neglect the need for hard work because of their huge profits.Moreover, as the ruling class, the samurai also seem to be intolerant of the polarization of power and wealth.
Therefore, the policy of the lord must transform from "valuing grain and cheap money", which attaches importance to agriculture and suppresses commerce, to "valuing grain and cheap business".Although the policy of Jizong is also based on the theme of "Valuing the Valley and Cheating the Gold", it also shows a different attitude from the previous curtain politics.That is to say, only 22 kinds of restricted commodities are available to merchants who have joined the officially recognized trade group "Intermediary".The shogunate intends to put commercial circulation activities under the control of the shogunate by means of government permission.
Peasant countermeasures
In order to resist the massive occurrence of bankruptcies among the people, the shogunate issued the "ban on the sale of Etanata (prohibition order)" in 1643.In fact, Tanahata (land) is still secretly traded and circulated in the form of "quality flow".Because of poverty, farmers had to pawn their land to rich farmers and merchants, but they were unable to redeem it (the so-called "quality flow"), so the land belonged to the other party.This is a disguised form of land sales.The land was concentrated in the hands of a small number of peasants, and the curtain vassal system with the theme of "maintaining the people" was greatly shaken.[6]
In order to cope with this situation, the shogunate issued the "Tanahata Quality Flow Prohibition Order" in 1721, prohibiting the quality flow of all land in the future;At the same time, the land that has been mortgaged by pawn will be repaid in the form of 15% of the original annual repayment without interest.However, in fact, poor farmers who lost their land because of pawning will only become poorer. In this way, it is almost impossible for these farmers to pay anti relief funds every year. The law cannot fundamentally solve the land problem.In Chuyu Village, Chuecheng County, Yuehou County, farmers who were informed of the issuance of the "Quality Flow Prohibition Order" carried out forced appeals and riots demanding the return of quality.For this reason, only two years after the order was issued, the shogunate had to admit the mass flow again.Moreover, in 1744, the year before Gizong left his post as a general, the "ban on selling and buying in Etanata" was eased, and the punishment regulations were also eased and relaxed.[6]
Relative economic order
With the development of commodity circulation in large-scale economic activities across the country, private money disputes are also increasing.The shogunate issued the first "relative economic order" in 1661.This law abandons the right to appeal to the public court in money dispute cases, and instead seeks solutions among the parties concerned.Although this law does not deny creditor's rights, it also puts people in a political powerless position.This opened the door for the samurai to renege on their debts.
In 1719, during the reform period, the shogunate issued the second "relative economic order".It mentioned that "Qiben Royal Family should be given relief, and today Zacha (the financial industry) is ordered to give up the loan".However, the reason for doing so is not only the sharp increase of money related litigation=Jin's official business, but also the delay of the referee and untimely resolution.In 1718, the year before Edo cho implemented the law, there were about 36000 lawsuits accepted, of which more than 90% were related to Jin Gongshi.
Stable rice price
Tokugawa Jizong took extraordinary measures to order Daimyo to offer rice, and every 10000 stones to offer rice and 100 stones, which is called the "upper metric system";As compensation, Daming's stay in Edo was shortened from one year to half a year.According to this decree, from 1722 to 1730, the shogunate increased its income by 187000 stone per year.(In 1730, the tribute rice system was stopped, and the attendance system was restored.) In addition, at the same time as the attendance time was halved, the order of "the princes to extinguish the fire", which defined the obligation to extinguish the Edo fire, was abolished, and replaced by the order of "the town to extinguish the fire".[7]In his order, Tokugawa Yoshitsung even said that he was "shameless" in carrying out the order.Because the shogunate always rewards the daimyo, now the shogunate asks for helping the daimyo;And to shortenSankin Kotai The time spent in the government is the price, and the pilgrimage account is an important means to maintain the curtain vassal system. The shogunate has always strictly implemented it, and now has to modify it, which shows the serious financial problem.The "upper metric system" lasted for 10 years, and was cancelled in 1731. The time of Sanjin in the government was still restored for one year, indicating that the finance of the shogunate has improved after ten years.[7]
The "inspection law" has always been implemented in grain collection. There are specific officials who assess the harvest of the year and designate the high or low tax rate for the ferocious harvest.But it is unfair for these officials to increase local tax rates at will.For example, if the special officials were well received when they came to the village for review, the annual tribute burden would be reduced, which was almost customary at that time.Therefore, it was decided to designate a uniform and fixed tax rate to put an end to the above-mentioned corruption.This also ensured the stable annual tribute income of the shogunate.
Xintian Development
In 1722, the Edo Nihonbashi put up a notice board, calling on rich businessmen to cooperate with the shogunate to develop Xintian.Although the development of Xintian has approached the limit, this time, through the development of the total Niigama Xintian, Ziyun Laga Xintian, and Musashino Xintian in Yuehou, the knowledge height of Muling (Tianling) has increased from 4 million stones to 4.5 million stones.
To coin new coins
In 1736, the "Yuan text small sentence" was forged, which reduced the content of gold, with the intention of promoting currency and raising the price of rice by increasing the amount of money in society.This policy is very effective, and the market has gradually become prosperous. "Yuan Wen Xiao Yi" has been circulating for 80 years since then.Since ancient times, there has been the behavior of the government to reduce the gold content of money and expect to obtain the difference between the monetary value and the actual value as its own income.The casting of "Yuan Wen Xiao Ju" is completely different from the above situation, which should be noted.
military
Restore Hawk Hunt
At that time, from Edo to the vassals, the military equipment was lax, the organizations were bloated, and the officials and gentry colluded.In response to this situation, Tokugawa Jizong restored the falconry prohibited in the Tokugawa Gangji era (which of course has its own preferences), and strengthened the intensity of shogunate military trainingGuandong PlainSeveral large-scale military exercises and hunting for the purpose of military training were conducted with Fuji Mountain.[8]
Culture
Support Zhu School
After succeeding the general, Tokugawa Jizong adopted the policy of revitalizing culture and education, rewarding Zhu Zixue, and promoting feudal ethics.Tokugawa Jizong opened another holy hall (Confucius Temple) to explain Zhu Zixue, and translated and published the "Six Edicts" as a folk education book to encourage good and punish evil.[2]
Introduction of Orchid Culture
Under the Edo shogunate's strict lock system, Japan only kept Nagasaki in touch with the outside world, which undoubtedly narrowed the channel for Japan to absorb western culture.It was not until 1720, when Tokugawa Jizong issued the "foreign book lifting ban order", that Lanxue flourished for a while, that this situation was fundamentally changed.At that time, Japan's import of European scientific, technological and cultural books (Chinese translated foreign books) translated by China (Qing Dynasty) was strictly prohibited. Only some books unrelated to Christianity were allowed to be imported after the import ban was slightly eased.In 1740, Tokugawa Jizong instructed his ministers, Qingmu Kunyang and Yelu Yuanzhang, to learn Dutch so that more people could learn Western culture.Qingmu Kunyang has compiled such works as "Translation of Helan Dialect", "Translation of Helan Language", "Research on Helan Currency", and "Brief Research on Helan Language",Wild Lv YuanzhangHe also wrote "Alantuo Herbal Reconciliation", "Alantuo Bird, Animal, Insect and Fish Reconciliation", etc. In addition, he ordered the Ministry of Construction Xianhong to draw the "General Drawing of Japan" in the four to eight years of Xiangbao, and made large-scale amendments to the maps of Zhengbao and Yuanlu.All these greatly promoted the further development of practical learning in Japan at that time.[9]
Sociology
Social ethos
Tokugawa Yoshitsung abolished false gifts and reduced administrative expenses.During the reform of enjoying social security, the construction of temples was restricted and Buddhism was simplified. The cost of the General's Mausoleum Temple in previous dynasties was also reduced, and no new General's Mausoleum Temple was built.Issue the thrift order.Not only Daming, Qiben, and Samurai, but also ordinary citizens and farmers are restricted in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.It is prohibited to manufacture luxury goods, high priced goods and new products.During the insurance reform, the "first goods" prohibition order was issued, stipulating that 36 new goods are not allowed to be manufactured.Rectify bad practices.It is strictly prohibited to die in love, and it will be punished as non human if you die in love but not die;Private prostitutes, geishas and mixed baths are prohibited;Gambling and breaking precepts are prohibited;Pornographic books and periodicals and erotic dramas are prohibited.During the insurance reform, it is stipulated that you can check and gamble in the samurai's home.[9]
Relief samurai
With the development of market economy, the wealth of Machi people is growing, while the samurai class is getting poorer and poorer.The samurai had to borrow money from the Machi people, which often led to debt disputes, which damaged the dignity of the lord.Therefore, relieving samurai and attacking Machi people became one of the major economic problems of the Tokugawa shogunate in the middle and late period.
In 1791, Tokugawa Yoshitsung issued a new order to stop "the official business of gold and silver entering and leaving", stipulating that the shogunate would not interfere with any litigation related to gold and silver debts, but the parties concerned would settle it through consultation.Although this does not deny the creditor's rights, the Machinists are politically powerless, and the parties' negotiation is obviously not conducive to the Machinists.This decree opened the door for the samurai to renege on their debts.In 1724, the shogunate approved Zha Chai (a financier) to establish Zhuzhong Jian, and uniformly stipulated the interest rate, which should not exceed 15%.[10]
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In terms of stabilizing the shogunate finance, the effect of the security reform is the best among the three major reforms.Slightly loosen the locked national gateoccidentThe financial situation of the shogunate was improved by restricting the import of books, encouraging scientific research, advocating thrift, improving the legal system and reclaiming wasteland.
At the same time, Tokugawa Yoshitsung's policy of raising the price of rice also brought a heavy blow to urban merchants. The strengthening of the feudal system is essentially a superficial act with a strong sense of retro style, which is completely incompatible with the changing trend of the real society (commercial development).The situation of the peasants is still not improved, and the constant resistance of the peasants has kept the shogunate in an unstable crisis.[11]
