The Codes of ChOsokabe
Motochika and the Economy of
Buddhist Temples in His Day (V)
Kozen
Tachibana
III: Translations
4. Chosokabe Motochika Shikimokul)
1: No Kumigashira should ever punish any Yoriki (who is under the direct control of the lord) in the care of a samurai, with Kaieki or the punishment of lowering his rank, or other punishment without notifying the lord no, matter what kind of crime he has committed. When it is heard by the lord that there is a Kumigashira who is unable observe this regulation
because-of forces in his nature and environment beyond his control, both the
Ku-1) In preparing this translation I have sometimes had the advice and assistance-of Prassistance-ofessor Mutsuro Sugii, Doshisha University. In particular he has advised me a great deal on how to utilize some kinds of texts. Mr. Kazuo Inoue publi-shed a very useful book COK, in which we find not only CO with discussions, of texts and variations, and a commentary, but also most articles of CMS. I have always relied on the complete translation of CO by Professor Marius B. Jansen, Princeton University, which was published in OE, 10-1. His translation, of technical terms has always been instructive for me. The code has also beeni reprinted in three books of sources as follows:
ZGR (Tokyo. 1924), vol. 23,Buke-bu, pp. 83-85. NKT (Tokyo. 1928), vol. 1, pp. 655-657.
Kaitei Shiseki Shuran (KSS, Tokyo. 1931. 4th ed.), vol. 17, Zatsu-bu, pp. 205-207. Frankly speaking, the most accurate copy is the first one because there are only two errors, and one of them seems to be a misprint. It is certain that the second copy and the Inoue book were edited based on the third copy which may give. some incorrect expressions to us. We can find some similar errors in these books which will present difficulties to us when we begin to read the code. My trans-lation is entirely based on ZGR. It is unfortunate that I am unable to be base it on KSS and NKT. I will point out and discuss the difference of these books.
-964-(38) The Codes of Chosokabe Motochika and the Economy (K. Tachibana) migashira and the Yoriki will be sentenced to Kaieki. However the Kumi-gashira must think much of his reputation even when the size of his fief is reduced. And he should keep appeances as before2). Just as the Kumigashira can order the Kouma-mawashi to attend to official business3), so he can order the Yoriki to do that. Furthermore, just as the Kumigashira can give the fief or reward to the Yoriki so he can give the fief or reward to the Kouma-mawashi as well. However, the Yoriki must return his fief to the lord when the house of his master becomes extinct4).
2: With regard to Ashigasu and Doshin: Kumigashira will be authorized to inflict punishment on them. However, he must notify the lord of the gravity of the offence, and the circumstances of their crime.
3: The playing of the card game as a form of gambling and all kinds of gambling should cease. Supplement: Every coarse manner other than the above should also be prohibited.
4: The rule that every samurai is to attend plays and Sumo wrestling matches must be suspended.
5: All people, whether high class or low class, are prohibited to hold a ban-quet. However, it will be surely permitted for them to drink only four or five cups of Sakes). Furthermore, they should observe the above regulation when they hold a feast or a Buddhist memorial service.
6: Nobody expect ministers of the castle is to be permitted to keep a hawk. 7: As to the houses of the samurai: They should build their house according
to their rank, and their house should be fine in appearance and have a long
2) ＊ZGR組 頭 外 聞 之 為 に て候。 俵 高 く結 び 可 申 事 也。 K55組 頭 外 聞 之 為 に て候 儘 高 元 結 ひ可 申事 也。 3) ＊ZGR公 用之 儀 小 馬 廻 同 前 に可 申 付。 KSS公 用 之 儀 に馬 廻 同 前 に可 申 付。 4) ＊ZGR但 与 力 知 行 其 主 絶 た る時 指 上 可 申 事。 KSS但 与 力 知 行 其 主 絶 さ る時 指 上可 申事。 5) ＊ZGR & KSS併 四五 返 迄。 NKT併 四 五 五返 迄。 6) ＊KSS表 向塀 長 家 見 苦 処 無 之 様 に仕。 ZGR表 向塀 長 屋 見 苦 処 無 之 様 に仕。
-963-The Codes of Chosokabe Motochika and the Economy (K. Tachibana) (39) wall outside6). Also they have to be able to keep their house clean. It is prohibited for them to build their house handsomely beyond their means and position.
8: Everyone who is a samurai should concentrate his whole mind upon rea-ding, learning, writing and the military code. The fidelity to his lord and vassal, and filial piety to his parents are absolutely necessary to him. 9: Even if anyone is a high ranked samurai, he is to keep company properly
with those of lower rank than himeself.
10: With regard to taking revenge: It is reasonable that the enemy of the father be avenged7) by his children and also, that the enemy of the older brother be avenged by the younger brother. Conversely, it is not fair that. the enemy of the younger brother be avenged by the older brother. Moreo-ver, it is never necessary that the enemy of an uncle or nephew be avenged by anyone.
11: Even if any samurai is under forty years old, he may be permitted to assume command of the army. However, this will certainly depend on whe-ther he serves the lord with fidelity or on whewhe-ther he is much skilled in military arts.
12: Any brave samurai who is the first to braeak into the enemy's territory by wielding a spear, and then cuts off an enemy's head with a long sword, a spear or a halberd, and also any samurai who performs other feats than the above will be given a fief, or be given money or materials as a reward by the lord depending on the circumstances of that battle. The military code is contained in a separate document. The secset should not be shown to, other people.
13: With regard to the share of the fief: The fief of most samurai is to supply just 58% of its rice to them8). However, this does not apply to the castle holder and the Ichiryo gusoku.
7) ＊ZGR & KSS親 の敵 を子。
NKT親 親 の 敵 を子。
8) CCK, p. 127. COK, pp. 208-209.
14: With regard to the tax on every samurai's fief: The tax exacted from the samurai is to be instituted as a tax in silver. The fifty koku of rice paid as rent is to be prescribed as the tax of one person. Supplement: Everyone who pays this tax to the office from the sixteenth of January to the last day of June can pay in either rice or silver to the office as he wishes. 115: Everyone who is sent to a camp9) for military service and to the other
countries for other business excepting military service will be exempted from taxation, and in addition to this he will be given silver money to support his expenditure. However, he needs to rest; it is permissable for him not to work for thirty-five days before and after his rest.
116: No samurai is permitted to have a feast at the office or site of constru-ction. Moreover, it will also be prohibited for him to bring food such as a two folded small wooden box, sake, cake and so on there.
17: All daughters and their mothers who belong to the samurai family, whether high class or low class, should want to make their own clothes; they should
strive to practice rigid economy. And also with regard to the expense of the marriage ceremony, both houses should spend as little money as ppssible. 8: With regard to the funeral ceremony: No matter whether the dead person
comes from a high class or low class, the coffin should not be used for either, but only the tub should be used. You must practice rigid economy
in everything besides this as well. Supplement: Only the relatives and the cousins should be present at the place of the funeral ceremony. Anyone other than these shall be prohibited to make an appearance there. However, when the dead person does not have any relatives and cousins, the close friends of that person can be present.
19: It shall be absolutely prohibited that anyone, whether high class or low class, play Go, Shogi and Sugoroku. When anyone is aware that there are people who break this rule, he should watch the activity of these peple and should inform the office.
20: As to companions and feasts10): These should be limited to the same
9) ＊KSS軍 陣又 者使 者。
ZGR軍 陳又 ハ使 者。
-961-The Codes of Chosokabe Motochika and the Economy (K. Tachibana) (41) degree as the regulations which were promulgated in former years1 ). Furthe-rmore, it is never necessary for any samurai to go on a picnic. According to circumstances, even if any samurai practices his skills for celebration and has conferences with some Ronin from the other countries or the relatives of the samurai in Tosa12), I will not worry about it.
21: When anyone who is a samurai wants to have an assembly to learn Japa-nese poetry, I will not worry about it.
22: With regard to notifying the system of Kanryaku to the samurai: To any samurai who is on the verge of bankruptcy and is not able to perform his duty to the lord because of an excessive debt which is not proper for his status, the lord will inform the Kanryaku system about him. He will be lent a relief fund according to the total value of his fief, for example, one hun-dred koku, by the lord. However, any samurai who feels it difficult to reco-ver his prosperity in two or three years through the help of the relief policy of Kanryaku can notify the lord. Such a samurai will be treated as a person who is lent money free of interest for a certain number of years in consi-deration of the amount of rice from his fief, of his servants and of the circumstances of his service to the lord. And depending on the situation, he will be exempted from his debt even if he is in heavy debt.
These articles must be observed strictly by all people. Moreover, some articles which were promulgated in former years13) have not yet lost their validity.
First Day of the Third Month, Second Year of Keich (1597 A. D.) Motochika (to be continued)
10) ＊ZGR音 信 振 舞 の類。
KSS音 信 振 舞着 類。
11) Without doubt the regulations which were promulagted in former years indicates those of MSS. The contents of this article are equal to those of the fifth article of MSS.
12) ＊ZGR他 国 牢 人家 人 之親 類 品 に よ り不 苦 也。
KSS他 国 牢 人 客人 老人 之 親 類 品 に よ り不 苦 也。
* correct expression.
13) Without doubt some articles which were promulgated in former years indi-cates those of MSS.
