<論説>割符のしくみと為替・流通・金融

Abstract

為替は遠隔地間の逆方向の送金関係の決済を、現金輸送を伴わずに同一地域内の代金決済に振り替えて行うこと、と定義される。よって、為替の一種である中世の割符を分析する際には送金関係の振替の構造を明らかにせねばならない。にもかかわらず、先行研究では割符という文書の動きばかりが注目され、振替の構造やしくみは検討されてこなかった。本稿では割符が、商品仕入原資等の「京都から地方へ」の送金と、荘園制に基づく「地方から京都へ」の貢納による送金という、遠隔地間の逆方向の送金関係を、割符の振出・決済という地域内の代金決済に振り替えるというしくみによって発行されていたことと、割符の振出地と支払地が同地かそれとも遠隔地かによって、「預かり文言型」・「為替文言型」という二種類に分類されること、を明らかにした。割符は地方から京都への貢納送金の手段であると同時に、遠隔地商人による京都から地方への仕入原資の送金、あるいは地方での借銭手段でもあった。商人たちは当時存在した都鄙間価格差を利用して利益をあげるために、割符を利用していたのである。このように割符とは、為替・流通・金融が組み合わさった取引であり、荘園制貢納と商品流通とを「送金関係の交換」によって互恵的に結びつける役割を果たしていたといえよう。

Medieval draft transactions (saifu torihiki) were a form of economic exchange. Exchange has been defined as the act of transferring a cash settlement within one region without sending a cash remittance for settlement in the opposite direction between distant locations. Thus, in order to analyze these drafts, it is necessary to clarify the structure of the transfers. Despite this fact, previous studies have only focused on the movement of the drafts as documents. They have ignored what sort of remittances they were and how they were transferred. This study concentrates on those previously ignored aspects and clarities the following four points. First, in medieval Japan, there was a demand for remittances to be sent from the Kyoto to the outlying regions as funds to stock goods, etc. and also a demand for remittances to be sent from outlying regions to Kyoto based on the payment of annual tribute-tax from the manor system. Draft transactions were the mechanism for transferring cash settlements within a region by drawing or setting a draft for these two types of distant remittances. Second, the wording of the drafts can be distinguished into two types; one using the word deposit (azukari) and the other using a word for remittance (kawashi). In the former the location of the drafting and the payment were the same, but in the latter the locations differed and were removed from one another. Third, the draft was a method for remitting the annual tax from outlying regions to Kyoto, a method of remittance of funds for the purchase of goods from Kyoto to be sent to outlying regions by merchants in distant locations, and also a means of credit in outlying regions. Fourth, it was the merchants who issued these drafts. They obtained funds to purchase goods in regions where prices were low by draft transactions. And by selling goods in Kyoto where prices were high, they were able to increase their profits. The following conclusions can be drawn from these four points. Draft transactions were transactions interlinked with exchange, distribution, and credit. The role played by draft transactions was a mutually beneficial linkage of the tax from estates and the distribution of goods through the exchange of remittances.