<論説>京枡座について

Abstract

石高制を基礎とし、米殻を主要な商品とする近世封建社会において、量制の問題が重要な位置を占めたことはいうまでもない。すでに宝月圭吾氏が、この問題についてのすぐれた研究を発表されているのであるが、本稿はたまたま調査することをえた京枡座文書によりつつ、幕府商業統制策の一環としてなされた枡座の成立と構造を解明した。京枡座は幕府と関係の深い大工頭中井家配下の棟梁がこれに当り、生産、価格など幕府の統制と特権的保護をうけており、この分析は、かかる特権的業者の内容を示すとともに領主市場統制についても明らかにするところがあると考える。

It is commonly accepted that in research on the early Edo period with its emphasis on the feudal society based on the 石高制 (system of rice revenues fixed in koku) in which grain was the main commodity of commerce, problems of measurement are a major concern. Prof. Keigo Hōgetsu has already published his excellent work on this problem. In this article I have relied on the 京枡座文書 (Documents of the Kyo-masu Za) which I had occasion to peruse and have tried to throw light on the formation and structure of the Masu Za which was part of the Bakufu's system for controlling commerce. The Kyo-masu Za came under the subordinates of the House of Nakai, Chief Carpenters, with their close relationship to the Bakufu. Thus they received the Bakufu's supervision and the privileges of special protection in production and prices of masu. This analysis, as well as illustrating certain features of the system of privileged monopoly, also clarifies some aspects of the feudal lords' control of the market.