amazing stories
PREFACE
This booklet is an attempt to introduce some of the figures of
Kiryu’s past who have contributed so significantly to the city’s
growth and prosperity. Only ten are included here, but as time
permits, others will be added. There are many indeed!
No one who lives in Kiryu can fail to sense its long history,
evident in its many historical buildings and the common sight of
the “sawtoothed” roofs of textile mills.
Kiryu is well-known for its natural resources (beautiful trees,
mountains, and rivers) and its manufacturing sector (textiles,
machine-metalworking and pachinko). But its most significant
and important resources are the many individuals who have
contributed and continue to contribute to make this city great.
The next time you pass a textile mill, or walk down Itoya-dori
to drop in Basho for a cup of coffee, perhaps you will recall
some of the figures written about in the pages here. Their spirit
lives on... can you feel it?
Kiryu International
Exchange Association
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Kiryu Rokuro - The First Lord of Kiryu Castle - 1
Ono Hachiemon - Planner of Kiryu Shin Machi - 4
Okanobori Kageyoshi - Establishment of an Irrigation System
for Local Farmers - 10
Arai Toemon - First Use of the Takahata Loom - 14
Iwase Kichibe - Inventor of an Automatic Yarn Thrower - 18
Kosaka Hanbe - First Use of a Drawloom in Kiryu - 22
Moriyama Yoshihei - Use of Chemical Dyes and
Weaver of High Quality Silk Brocades - 25
Saba Kiroku - President of Nippon Textile Corporation - 29
Noma Seiji - Founder of Kodansha Publishing Company - 35
Koike Gyoshin - Owner - Proprieter of Basho Restaurant - 37
KIRYU ROKURO
(? - 1183)
The Demise of the
“
Former Lord Kiryu
”
Between the years
1180-1185, a civil war
was fought in Izu between
the armies of the Heike and
Genji Clans. (During the
Genpei Civil War, the Genji
army eventually defeated and
destroyed the Heike Clan.)
As the civil war progressed,
a dark shadow was cast over
the proud and flourishing
Heike. After long struggle,
the Genji Clan marched on the
Heike with the intention of
finally overthrowing them.
With their defeat, the great
and prosperous Heike Clan
fell from power.
Despite this state of
affairs, Lord Ashikaga Toshitsuna (a Heike vassal) burned one of
the strongholds of the Genji Clan to the ground. This stronghold was
located in the provincial capital of Shimotsuke no Kuni (present-day
Tochigi Prefecture). He continued his rebellion further by
suppressing any who opposed the Heike Clan. By then, however, the
Heike Clan had already fallen from power, and, day by day, the Genji
grew stronger with their position solidified. It was a traumatic time
of change in Japanese society.
Nevertheless, Lord Ashikaga Toshitsuna and his son, Tadatsuna,
persisted in pledging their allegiance to the Heike Clan. Yoritomo
no Minamoto repeatedly called for the Ashikaga father and son to
subjugate themselves to him and vow allegiance. Even so, there
was no appearance of Ashikaga
’
s compliance with his command.
On the contrary, in February, 1183, Toshitsuna and Tadatsuna
allied themselves with Lord Shida Yoshihiro. Yoshihiro then battled
with Lord Koyama Asamasa (allied with Yoritomo) at Shimotsuke
Nogimiya, whereupon he and his followers were defeated.
Immediately, Yoritomo dispatched Lord Wada Yoshishige to hunt
down and kill Toshitsuna and his son. Lord Wada pursued them to
the town of Ashikaga in Shimotsuke, however, when he and his
troops arrived there, they discovered that Ashikaga Toshitsuna
had already been assassinated at the hand of Lord Kiryu Rokuro.
Rokuro took the head of Toshitsuna and made his way to
Kamakura, where the Genji Shogun, Yoritomo sat in power.
Arriving there, Rokuro requested that Yoritomo allow him to join
the ranks of other loyal vassals. However, he was never
permitted to voice his request, since, on the contrary, Yoritomo
issued an order, rebuking Rokuro as
“
unworthy
”
and
“
disloyal,
”
Yoritomo, furthermore, ordered his execution. Thus, the head of
Lord Kiryu Rokuro was gibbeted along with that of Lord Ashikaga
Toshitsuna at Inari-Mura-ga-Seki. The reign of Rokuro, Lord of
the Kiryu domain, came to an end within one generation. This
story, too futile in meaning, was never recorded in the annals of
the Kamakura Era.
But, it begs the question,
“
What possible motivation could Lord
Kiryu have had to carry out this outrageous act of murder and
intrigue?
”
It would seem at first glance that the founder of the
Kiryu dynasty was a traitor, a stigma that would seem most
unfortunate to the citizens of Kiryu. What could possible explain
Rokuro
’
s actions?
According to local historians, the following conjecture may
throw light on this affair.
It can be said that in the eyes of Rokuro, Ashikaga Toshitsuna
’
s
and his son, Tadatsuna
’
s, behavior toward Kamakura and the
Shogun, Yoritomo was fighting against the current of the times.
Rokuro was keenly aware of this state of affairs. That is to say,
the Ashikaga
’
s stubborn allegiance to the Heike Clan and insistence
on honoring their pledge was a failure to recognize a change in
times.
Furthermore, the Ashikaga family did not consider in the least
the fate of those vassals who had pledged them their allegiance.
As a result, these local lords, who had devoted their lives to
developing the region, along with their own families and
retainers, faced annihilation at the hands of Yoritomo. In the face
of impending doom, therefore, Kiryu Rokuro, devised this plan in
the hope of protecting his own domain.
From the end of the Heian Period through the Period of Warring
States, justice was dealt by the hand of the victor during war. In
this context, the decision handed down regarding Rokuro
’
s
behavior as being unworthy and disloyal was in fact, for him, an
unavoidable act in order to protect his domain and his own future.
Without a doubt, it was with great determination and courage that
he carried out this plan.
Another, more convoluted, explanation has been written
elsewhere. Having joined ranks with Shida Yoshihiro in an
insurrection against the forces of Yoritomo, Toshitsuna and his
son found themselves fleeing for their lives from the more
powerful army of the Genji Clan. In order to protect the Ashikaga
domain and guarantee that the Ashikaga dynasty would continue,
there was no other alternative but to kill Yoritomo. To achieve
this, Toshitsuna, already advanced in age, offered himself as a
sacrifice, and plotted the following scheme with Rokuro.
Rokuro was to kill his liege lord, Toshitsuna, and bear the head
as a trophy to the Shogun, Yoritomo no Minamoto, in Kamakura.
This would provide him the chance to get near enough to
assassinate Yoritomo. Unfortunately, if this had been the case, the
ruse was revealed to Yoritomo before Rokuro
’
s arrival. Thus
prepared, Yoritomo ordered Rokuro
’
s beheading and further
commanded that his head be gibbeted with Ashikaga
’
s.
Whichever the case, Kiryu Rokuro was executed by Yoritomo no
Minamoto. Afterwards, his family and retainers were in fear for
their lives, however, the Kamakura Shogunate handed down a
statement that the crime was, in fact, not committed by all the
followers of Toshitsuna. Happily, Rokuro
’
s family and retainers
were also not faulted.
In actuality, crimes such as this would normally have resulted in
the execution of Rokuro
’
s entire family and all his retainers as
well. Naturally, his domain would then fall under his enemy
’
s
control. The fact that Rokuro
’
s family was spared certainly was a
great relief to them. Be that as it may, however, this brought an
end to Lord Kiryu
’
s reign with a tragic flourish of the sword.
(Translated from Furusato Kiryu no Ayumi, published by the Kiryu
City Board of Education, 2000)
桐生六郎（？∼１１８３）
栄華を誇った平家も、源頼朝が伊豆に挙兵し、治承・寿永の内乱（１１８０
∼１１８５、源頼朝の挙兵から平氏滅亡までの内乱）が起こると、たちまちそ
の勢力には陰りが見られるようになってきた。
歳月の経過と共に、平氏打倒へ向けた源氏の進撃はますます急となり、中央
における平氏の力は全く全盛期の面影を失ってしまった。しかし、そういった
情勢になってもなお、足利俊綱は、上野国国府付近の源氏方拠点を焼き払って
国府を掌握するなどし、平家方としえ反乱者鎮圧行動を示し続けていた。平氏
がかつての勢いを失い、源氏の勢力が日増しに増大し安定しつつあるという、
時代の大きな変容の中にあっても、足利俊綱・忠綱親子は、依然として平家へ
の忠誠を誓い続けたのである。
頼朝からは、しきりに源氏への従属を勧める働きかけがなされた。けれども
俊綱・忠綱親子はまったく源氏に従う様子を見せなかった。それどころか、寿
永２年（１１８３）２月、俊綱親子は、頼朝と対立する常陸の志田義広に味方
した。その義広が、頼朝方の小山朝政と下野野木宮で戦って敗れると、頼朝は
ただちに和田義茂に俊綱親子追討を命じて下野に進出させた。ところが、この
追討軍が下野足利に到着してみると、俊綱は、すでに六郎の手によって首級を
あげられてしまっていた。
六郎は、俊綱の首級を持参して鎌倉に上り、御家人の列に取り入れられるこ
とを頼朝に願い出た。しかし、その願いは取り上げられず、反対に頼朝から、
その行為の不当・不忠をなじられて、断罪・処刑に付され、稲村ケ崎で主君俊
綱の首級と一緒に、さらし首にされてしまった。こうして桐生の地を領した前
桐生氏は、六郎一代で消え去った。このあまりのはかなさのためか、鎌倉時代
の古記録は、六郎に関わる事項を一切登場させていない。
ところで、なぜ六郎は主君俊綱を討ち取るという暴挙に出たのであろうか。
桐生始祖の六郎が、今日なお、逆臣という汚名を着せられたままでいるという
ことは、桐生市民にとって大変残念なことである。
六郎の行動の本意は、どのあたりにあったのだろうか。郷土史研究家は、こ
れを次のように推測する。
それは、「鎌倉に対する足利俊綱・忠綱親子の行動が、六郎には時代に逆行
するものととらえられたのではないだろうか。六郎は、天下の情勢を鋭敏に察
知していたのであろう。
」ということである。
すなわち、俊綱親子が平氏への忠誠のみを重んじて時代の変化に気づかず、
家臣の命運を全く顧みてくれない。これでは、一生かけて築き上げ開拓をして
きた領地・家臣の地位・家族など、すべてが「無」になってしまう。何とかし
なければと心配した末に、「桐生を守るため、やむにやまれずとった行動」だ
ったのではないかというのである。
平安末期から戦国時代にかけては、相手に勝つことによってのみ、正義が主
張された時代でもある。そのことを考えれば、六郎のとった不忠不義の後遺は
結果論であって、桐生の将来を考え、桐生の地を守るための一大決意をした上
での行動であったに違いない、と受け止めたいわけである。
また「頼朝に対して蜂起した志田義広に組したがために、俊綱・忠綱親子は
頼朝軍の追討受ける結果となってしまった。足利領内を守り足利氏の血脈を永
続させる手立ては、もはや頼朝を倒す以外に方法がない。そこで老将俊綱は自
ら死を選び、後事を六郎に託した。
六郎は主君を斬殺し、その首級を持って頼朝に近づき、隙があれば頼朝を殺
害しようと策謀した。その策略が頼朝に事前に知らされて、六郎は首をはねら
れ、さらし首にされてしまった。
」と記述している文献もある。
いずれにしても、六郎は頼朝によって処刑されてしまった。その六郎処刑後
の一族・家臣たちの処置が心配されたが、その後鎌倉から「俊綱の子息郎従た
りといえども、御方に参向する輩を罪すべからざる事。」との下文が出された
ことにより、幸いにも六郎の家族・一族郎党らには、何らとのとがめ立てはな
かった。足利俊綱の家族等も同様だった。
本来ならば、この事件によって六郎の家族・一族郎党の処刑、領地召し上げ
があっても当然な時代だったが、それらのすべてが許されたのである。このこ
とは前桐生氏にとって、大きな救いだったといえる。
それにしても、治承４年（１１８０）に、歴史の舞台に華々しく登場してき
た桐生六郎が、寿永２年（１１８３）には、あっけなく歴史の舞台から姿を消
してしまったのである。わずか２年間という短命な豪族−とれが前桐生氏であ
った。
【ふるさと桐生のあゆみ】
（桐生市教育委員会発行）より
ONO HACHIEMON
(? - 1614)
KIRYU'S FIRST URBAN PLANNER
Beginning of the Edo Era...
In 1590, Kiryu was under the direct administrative control of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu. Until that time, the Kiryu area, which included some 54 villages, was controlled by the daimyo (a medieval lord), Lord Yura, who had taken control of the
fortress-castle on Hishakuyama, sometimes referred to as Kiryu Castle or Hishakuyama Castle.
Because of his political alignment with Lord Hojo, who had been defeated in battle by Lord Tokugawa, Yura was banished to Hitachi Ushiku (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) and divested of his
fiefdom. Lord Tokugawa subsequently appointed his vassal ("hatamoto"), Okubo Nagayasu, to oversee the area.
Okubo Nagayasu (1545) was born into a family of Sarugaku performers in Kai Province (now Yamanashi Prefecture). His patrons, the Takeda family, were destroyed in 1582. After the fall of Lord Takeda, he was adopted by the Okubo family and moved to the Kanto region where he served as a magistrate under Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu. After becoming Shogun, Ieyasu declared that the domains were to be reapportioned, so Nagayasu was assigned by Sakakibara Yasumasa to help with a land survey. (Sakakibara played a major role in the massive redistribution of domains at the beginning of the Edo Era.)
In the year 1603, Ieyasu decreed that Hachioji, Oume and Kiryu, areas where the mountains and plains met, were to be developed as market towns; mining interests were to be developed in the Iwami, Sawa and Izu areas. Ieyasu further ordered the improvement of the facilities in post station towns along the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads. He also ordered the construction of castles in Edo, Sumpu and Nagoya. In order to proceed with his various waterworks, mining and construction projects, he dispatched engineers throughout the countryside and in this way strengthened the shogunal estates. Ieyasu died at Sumpu Castle in the year 1613.
In the meantime, Nagayasu was stationed at the Musashi
Hachioji Encampment. He had other encampments built in the area and appointed magistrates to oversee them. In the year 1590, Ono Hachiemon, by order of Nagayasu, was sent to the Kiryu
domain as a "daikan" or local magistrate. The original domain administered by Lord Yura was a narrow stretch of villages located at the foot of Mt. Hishaku on the peak of which was a castle-fortress. Because it was a narrow pass between the mountains, Ono
Hishakuyama, site of Kiryu Castle
ordered that Arato-hara, a fan-shaped plain which opened up to the west and south of the Kiryu River, be developed as a new town and planned to have the peasants moved there. Kubo Village was selected as the southernmost border with Akagi no Mori at the north.
The town was laid out in a straight line with just over 5 quarters. At the time, there was a road which passed through the center
of the Arato-hara plain, running from north to south. This road was used in 1573 when Lord Yura Narishige took over the control of the Kiryu domain and in 1584 when his successor, Lord Yura Kunishige, moved from Ota to take up residence in Hishakuyama Castle. As a result of these developments, the road between Ota and Kiryu was heavily traveled.
Goods transported between Ota and Kiryu had to be carried over the Nitta Moat (trench), across the Watarase and Kiryu rivers and over the Shimotoro Moat (trench) which had been constructed in the Middle Ages by Lord Kiryu Kunitsuna. Ono Hachiemon leveled the hillside running along Kubo village (now part of the grounds surrounding Jakko-In temple) and on the leveled area, he constructed a magistrate's manor.
He further decided to widen the main road of the new town to approximately 9 meters. Land along this road was parceled out in such a way that it resembled a fan-folded paper, with the
narrow end of each parcel fronting on the main road, allowing a maximum number of residents to face directly on the main road. On the west side of the road another road was constructed,
running perpendicular to the main road, leading up to the hillside. This road provided access to the magistrate's manor.
The borders of the town were marked by an embankment. On the west side of the main road a drainage ditch was dug. At several locations along the road, ditches leading off the road were also dug so that water could run off towards the outlying fields for irrigation. The water
eventually emptied into the Kiryu River.
By 1591 the construction of the town was completed and the tutelary god of Umebara Shrine, established by Lord Yura
Narishige when he renovated Kubo village, was moved to Akagi no Mori (present location of Tenmangu shrine).
At first there were some 5 districts in two major quarters, however, in 1605, the road was extended south to include some 11 subdivisions reaching up to Shimotoro Moat. The new town
was redivided to include the original two quarters (1 chome and 2 chome), and the new 3 Tenmangu Shrine
Plan of Kiryu Shin Machi
chome, 4 chome, 5 chome and 6 chome quarters. The water ditch running on the west side of the main road was extended to empty directly into Shimotoro Moat.
Further progress in town development occurred when the Tendai sect temple in
Shinshuku was moved to 6 chome and renamed Jounji, becoming a Soto Sect Buddhist temple. Little by little other roads were
developed, including a road running from 4 chome toward the villages on the east side. Imaizumi Bridge was constructed, near the present location of the Fukuda Accounting Company offices, over Usagizeki Canal. This road continued on over Kiryu River to Shimobishi village. On the west side, Kosone Bridge was
constructed over another canal near the present location of Nishi Kindergarten. This road led eventually to Ogura Pass toward Kawauchi.
Another road extended from Shinshuku village on the east, over the Shimotoro Moat, and on toward the Akaiwa Ferry crossing to the west which took passengers and goods across the Watarase River.
Nagayasu was an energetic developer and was not restricted in his planning to developing settlements in the exact same locations where they had naturally grown up. He sometimes proceeded to construct wholly new settlements. In the case of Kiryu, as well, he was not to be limited to the little settlements which had grown up around the base of Kiryu Castle on Hishaku mountain during the time of Lord Yura. Rather, he chose to move to the area of Kubo village, referred to as Arato-hara, and there began his project.
Ono Hachiemon, known more popularly as "Sonkichi", was born in Yokoyama village in Musashi Seta-gori. In 1590, he was sent to the Kiryu domain as a representative of Okubo Nagayasu, a vassal of Lord Tokugawa. In 1591 he began to work industriously on the development of the new town ordered by Nagayasu. In 1596 he conducted a grand survey of the Kiryu domain.
Hachiemon, who directly oversaw the development of the new Kiryu town, was a very devote man and highly respected by the local peasants. He died in 1614 and was buried at Hosenji Temple in Umeda.
Hachiemon ordered that any household in the villages under his control in which there were two or more children had to send at least one to take up residence in the newly constructed market town. In this way he built up the population and the number of dwellings.
Furthermore, the rights of newcomers were the same as the original inhabitants and discrimination along these lines was not allowed. He relaxed the normal rules of ranking among the residents, making for a general air of progress and liberality. With a tutelary god, Chinju, enshrined at Tenjin Shrine at Akagi no Mori, the town running directly south of this shrine took on the physical appearance of a "Monzen Machi" or temple town,
however, this new rural market town was quite unlike the reconstructed castle towns of Tatebayashi, Umayabashi (now Maebashi), Takasaki and Isesaki. With the development of Kiryu as a peasant market town, there was no need to furnish the needs of a resident samurai class, found in "Joka Machi" (castle
towns) and "Monzen Machi" (temple towns). For this reason, tradesmen usually associated with the production of items in demand by samurai or aristocrats were not to be found in Kiryu. Kiryu's special development as a rural market town can be attributed to the following unique features:
- The town was laid out in a straight line, making for an
unobstructed view of the main districts. Even the alleys leading off the main road were laid out in a straight line. Nor is there any evidence of there having been any military facilities in the town. - Around the border of the town there was a dirt embankment, however, at the entrances/exits no checkpoints were
established.
- Unlike castle towns of the daimyo (lords), one could not find special quarters such as a kimono quarter, gourmet food quarter, or other such commercial
districts frequented by the elite. Nor was there a blacksmiths quarter (since peasants did not own horses), a confectionary quarter (serving the needs of tea ceremony masters or other elite customers) or other such quarters of skilled craftsmen and artisans. Finally, one could not find a falconry or archery quarter which would serve the exclusive needs of the samurai. Without such specialist quarters, the districts were simply assigned numbers from 1 to 6.
- From its inception, the town welcomed newcomers. The residents, besides those few who were dwelling at the magistrate's manor, had moved in from the surrounding villages under the administrative control of the
magistrate. Each and everyone of them was a self-supporting peasant, not bound in service to a daimyo.
Because of its development in the Arato-hara plain, the new town was originally given the name "Arato Shin Machi" (Arato New Town) in the year 1668, according to the "Record of Kozuke no Kuni," an official record of the area at the time. Later, in 1673, the name was changed to Kiryu Shin Machi (Kiryu New Town).
But the story does not end there. While Hachiemon did much for the development and prosperity of Kiryu, he also managed to get embroiled in a love affair with the beautful wife of a local man and used his status to establish his rights with her. As a result, Hachiemon's reputation was severely tarnished.
Later, he was suspected by the shogunate of complicity with Lord Tokugawa's enemies during the Battle of Sekigahara and as a result, in 1606, he was arrested in Ashikaga where he was
condemned to death by beheading.
Hachiemon was buried at Hosenji Temple in Umeda. A record exists of a memorial stone erected in his honor at Jounji Temple in Honcho 6 chome, although this stone cannot be found today. His gravesite at Hosenji could be found until the 1950's, but after that it somehow disappeared. In its place, there is a memorial stone erected in his honor next to the gravestone of Yura Narishige, a former Lord of Kiryu Castle, also located at Hosenji Temple.
Because of his hard work and dedication in developing the town of Kiryu and his progressive policies for urban planning, such as the use of numbers for districts, Hachiemon has become popularly known as Ono Sonkichi (a name meaning "respect").
Translated from sections taken from Furusato Kiryu no Ayumi (2000)and Kiryu no Hito to Kokoro (2003) published by the Kiryu City Board of Education.
Honcho 1-2 chome with Tenmangu Shrine at the north end
お お の は ち え も ん
大野八右衛門（？∼１６１４）
天正１８年（１５９０）に桐生領は、徳川氏直轄地となった。これまで、黒
川山中を含む桐生領５４カ村の村域は、柄杓山城を本拠とした由良氏の支配下
にあった。
由良氏は、後北条氏に味方したため、常陸牛久へ国替えとなり、徳川氏の代
官頭大久保長安の支配地へと替わった。
大久保長安は、天文１４年（１５４５）に甲斐武田氏家臣の子として生まれ
た。
武田氏の滅びた後、徳川氏の家臣に取り立てられ、関東入国後は代官頭とな
り、榊原康政のもとで家臣団の知行割・領国内の検地にあたった。
慶長８年（１６０３）に、幕府奉行衆（老中職）の一人に加えられ、家康の
駿府政治の一翼をになった。自ら各地を巡視し、直接指揮をとる一方、駿府・
江戸から書状により指示を与えた。山地と平地の接続した所に位置する八王
子・青梅・桐生の町創設、石見・佐渡・伊豆の鉱山開発、東海道・中山道の宿
駅整備、江戸・駿府・名古屋の築城など、治水・鉱山・築城の技術に手腕を発
揮し、幕府財政のいしずえを築いた。慶長１８年（１６１３）に駿府で死去し
た。
長安の地方支配は、武蔵八王子の陣屋を拠点として、各地に出張陣屋を作り、
手代を派遣して支配にあたらせた。
天正１８年（１５９０）に長安の命を受け、桐生領を支配するために派遣さ
れた手代の大野八右衛門は、由良氏の支配していた頃の城下町（久保村町屋）
が桐生領の触元としては、狭く、規模が小さいため、桐生川扇状地上に位置す
る荒戸原に新町をつくって町屋を移すことを考え、久保村の南端を基点として、
北は赤城ノ森までの直線状５町余を用地に充てることにした。当時、荒戸原扇
央部に、北から南へかけて通路があった。
この通路は、元亀４年（１５７３）の由良成繁の桐生領支配と、天正１２（１
５８４）の由良国繁の柄杓山城への国替えにより桐生・太田間の往来が繁くな
ったため、久保村町屋からの近道として、長い間本道であった美和社沿いの回
り道を避けて作られたものという。
桐生・太田間の生活物資輸送は、新田堀・渡良瀬川・桐生川を経て、下瀞堀
（中世期に桐生国綱のつくった堀割）へ至る舟運によった。そして、下瀞堀の
崖下に舟渡場があった。
八右衛門は、久保村峯（現寂光院境内）の丘陵を削り取って平らにし、陣屋
を作り拠点とした。新町の町並みは、荒戸原の通路を広げて５間（間は長さの
単位で６尺をいう。約１．８ｍ）とし、その両側を、間口６間から６間３尺く
らい、奥行４０間から４４間くらいに縄張りをして、短冊状１軒前の屋敷とし
た。通路の西側に１町３２間の通路を作り、陣屋への通路とした。周囲の町境
に、高さ５尺ほどの土手を築いて
くるわ郭 とし、通路の西側へ用水路をつくった。
この水路は、桐生川右岸の久保村大堰を取水口とし、２丁目・３丁目境の雉子
ノ尾で左折して村域を灌漑し桐生川へ抜けている。天正１９年（１５９１）に
新町の町並みが整ったところで、由良成繁の再興した久保村鎮守の梅原天神社
を赤城ノ森へ移した。
当初は１丁目・
2 丁目の５町余であったが、慶長１０年（１６０５）に、雉
子ノ尾を基点として、南へ１１町余の縄張りをして、下瀞堀までの町並みを整
え、３丁目・４丁目・５丁目・６丁目とした。そして、通路西側の用水路を延
長し、下瀞堀へ抜けるようにした。
この時、新宿村から、５丁目へ天台宗長福寺を、６丁目へ浄土宗浄運寺を移
している。
隣村への通路は、４丁目から東は兎堰用水に架けられていた今泉橋（現福田
会計事務所付近）を経て桐生川対岸の下菱村へ、西は大堰用水に架けられてい
た小曾根橋（現西幼稚園前）を経て小倉峠へ至っている。
さらに、新宿村境の通路から、東は下瀞堀に架けられていた常木橋を経て新
宿村へ、西は渡良瀬川の赤岩ノ渡へ至っている。
長安の手法は、八王子・青梅の町立てと同じように、これまでの村境にとら
われることなく、将来の発展を見通した、新しい町をつくることにあった。
そこで、由良氏の支配していた頃の城下町を触元としないで、荒戸原と呼ば
れていた久保村の一部を分割し、新町をつくったものと思われる。
大野八右衛門は、名を尊吉といい、武蔵多摩郡横山村で生まれた。
天正１８年（１５９０）に徳川氏の代官頭大久保長安の手代として、桐生領
の地へ派遣された。天正１９年（１５９１）に新町の創設に尽くし、慶長３年
（１５９８）に桐生領の検地を行っている。
八右衛門は敬神に厚く、慶長１５年（１６１０）に天満宮へ宝殿を奉納した。
慶長１９年（１６１４）に死去し、久保村鳳仙寺へ葬られた。
八右衛門は、創設した在郷町へ支配下の村々から、子供２人以上の世帯では、
そのうちの１人を移住させたり、近郷からの入植者をつのったりして、戸数・
人口の増加をはかった。
このため、住民の権利は旧住者も新来者も同等であり、排他の傾向は見られ
ない。住民間の階級制もゆるやかで、常に新興の気風に満ちていた。また、宿
頭の天神社を、桐生領の総鎮守としたので、門前町・触元を兼ねたようなかた
ちとなった。しかし、、館林・厩橋・高崎・伊勢崎のように、封建制の再編成
にあたってつくられた城下町とは性格の違う在郷町である。したがって、ここ
には武士団の経済をまかなうような商工業者はいない。このことは、
１．直線状の町並みで見通しがよく、辻子も直行し、軍事施設の形跡がみられ
ないこと。
２．周囲の町境に土居を築いているが、町の出入口に筋違門がつくられていな
いこと。
３．大名居城地にみられるような、連雀町・呉服町・肴町などの商人町名、鍛
冶町・紺屋町・檜物町などの職人町名、鷹匠町・弓町などの職掌町名がなく、
１丁目から６丁目までの番号町名を採用していること。
４．創設当初から新来者優待の町で、住民は陣屋駐在の少数の役人のほかは、
支配下の村々からの移住者と、近郷からの入植者であり、すべて自給自足の農
民たちであること。
などの事実によって裏付けられる。
【ふるさと桐生のあゆみ】
（桐生市教育委員会発行）より
実力者となった八右衛門には、心を寄せる美しい女性がいました。今泉とい
うところに住む元由良氏家来の金谷因幡の奥方で、思い焦がれた八右衛門は、
権力にものをいわせ、とうとう奥方を奪い取ってしまい、八右衛門の評判は悪
くなりました。
「岩下旧記」によれば、八右衛門は関が原の戦いのとき、石田三成方に内通
した咎で、慶長１１年（１６０６）１１月２５日に下野国（現在の栃木県）足
利において召し捕らえられて斬首されたと記録されています。しかし、桐生天
満宮に伝わる「桐生店天満宮縁起」には、慶長１５年（１６１０）に宝殿を奉
納していることから、後世、評判の悪い八右衛門をこのように書いたのではな
いかと推量されます。
さて、八右衛門の墓ですが、文化１４年（１８１７）丑３月に上久方村にあ
る鳳仙寺に金子太郎兵衛が訪れた時には、すでに石碑は見つからなかったとい
います。当時の住職の話では「２５、６年前まではあったが、無縁仏となって
しまったのではないか」ということが金子太郎兵衛の覚書に記録されています。
大野八右衛門の法名は、
「太翁春陽居士」。慶長１９年甲寅３月１２日卒と伝
えられています。
この覚書によると、桐生新町６丁目にある浄運寺に石碑があったとも記され
ていますが、痕跡はありません。またそれらしき墓は梅田町１丁目の曹洞宗の
桐生山鳳仙寺に昭和３０年代初めまでありましたが、何らかの事情で今日では
見ることができません。かわりに桐生市指定重要文化財の
由良
ゆ らなりしげ成繁の墓の脇に
供養の墓碑があります。
桐生が織物の町として将来発展していくのを期待し、各町の有力者に治安を
ゆだね、町名を番号町で表すなど理想的な町づくりを進めていったことは評価
することができます。
【桐生の人と心】
（桐生市教育委員会発行）より
OKANOBORI
KAGEYOSHI
(? - 1687)
Although Kiryu is a textile manufacturing city, its development as a major textile center depended on the efforts and contributions of many. An irrigation canal flows beneath the Okanobori Ryoku Do (Okanobori Green Avenue) in Aioi. This irrigation canal begins in Omama under the Hanetaki Bridge in Takatsudo. The water for the canal is drawn from the
Watarase River. The canal passes through Omama, into Kiryu, and from there enters Kasakake where it divides into two canals at a place called Mitsumata.
The water in the irrigation canal flows into the fields of Kasakake and Yabutsuka
Honmachi where rice and vegetables are grown.
Although the city of Kiryu is surrounded on 3 sides by mountains, to the south it opens up on a wide flat plain (the northernmost
extension of the Great Kanto Plain). While this area is flat, originally it was very dry and could not be planted. Rain which fell on the land was quickly absorbed by the arid soil. The earth was soon dried up by the strong winds blowing across the plain from Mt. Akagi. Rainwater alone was insufficient for agriculture.
Prior to the construction of the irrigation canal, people living in
the area employed water from ponds, creeks, or dug deep wells to water their crops. During droughts, however, these sources of water proved insufficient.
In the year 1661, Okanobori Kageyoshi, an official in the Tokugawa shogunate, was posted to Kasakake. When he viewed the wide expanse of land around the village, he
recognized its agricultural potential in the form of rice paddies and cultivable fields. Unfortunately, there were no ponds or rivers to water the fields.
Everyday Kageyoshi walked through the fields gradually making a detailed map of the area. He
developed a plan for drawing water from the Watarase River to irrigate the fields.
Of primary concern was the fact that the ground had little or no gradient to promote the flow of water and that the arid soil would quickly absorb the water flowing in the ditch. Nowadays, it is possible to accurately gauge the amount of water flowing in a ditch, however, in the early days of the Edo Period, water flow
was measured at night using the reflection of light shed by paper lanterns. Officials from Edo who came to inspect the Okanobori
Okanobori Green Avenue Okanobori Kageyoshi
Project were amazed by his engineering expertise. Drawing up a plan for the irrigation ditch took 4 to 5 years. Construction began in 1672. It took over 10 years to complete the entire project.
As the ditch was dug, many rocks were unearthed. These, too, were used in construction. In addition, the ditch had to be dug approximately 8 meters deep and 11 meters wide in the section from Aioi's Tennojuku to Amanuma, a significant undertaking in those days.
In addition, since water was particularly scarce in Kasakake, Kageyoshi constructed a pond to supplement the water source. From this location, the water flowed on to Yabutsuka and Nitta Town.
A branch was formed in Mitsumata, allowing water to flow both toward Iwajuku as well as to Takezawa. Altogether, the irrigation canal was some 15 kilometers in length. It has been estimated that the earth dug from the canal would now fill
some 23,000 dump trucks!
Construction of the Mouth of the Canal
Kageyoshi considered various methods of drawing water from the Watarase River. He was convinced that a simple opening would soon be destroyed by the river current during heavy rains or a typhoon. As a result, a decision was made to
construct a rock tunnel entrance that would withstand the pressure
of high currents.
The canal entrance is a 30 meter long tunnel cut through the rock face along the Watarase River bank in Omama.
Engineering this task in the 17th century was no small feat indeed.
Completion of the Canal
After extraordinary efforts over a long period of time, the canal was completed. In 1672, water from the irrigation canal was used to flood a field near Shikadayama, and the first rice paddy was created.
The Passing of Kageyoshi
Not only did Kageyoshi build an extensive irrigation canal system, but he also established a new farming settlement in Yabutsuka. However, since some farmers upstream were drawing too much water from the canal, not enough remained for those living in the new development.
In addition, the Tokugawa Shogunate took exception to the large amount of funds used by Kageyoshi for his projects and they reprimanded him for it. As a result, in the year 1687, Kageyoshi committed ritual suicide to take responsibility for these failures. Only 15 years after Kageyoshi's passing, water ceased to flow in the irrigation canal.
Reopening the Canal
Approximately 170 years after the canal closed, Imaizumi Kichiemon and Imaizumi Sadaemon gained the cooperation of local villagers and after 6 years of repair work, managed to reopen part of the canal in 1862. After the reopening, many new rice paddies
were formed.
In 1873, Yabutsuka and other villages in Nitta-gun raised a significant amount of money to complete the repairs on their portion of the canal.
At present, most of the irrigation canal now flows underground. This came about in 1981 when the canal was covered over and extended to new areas by a major national agricultural development project.
In 1915, Emperor Taisho recognized Kageyoshi for his significant contribution to rural development. The site of
Kageyoshi's residence has been preserved in Kasakake and a shrine in his honor has been established in Yabutsuka.
Clearly, thanks to the efforts of Okanobori Kageyoshi,
agricultural products, including mulberry leaves, necessary for the production of silk, were readily available in the Kiryu area and contributed directly to the development of the area as a textile center.
Translated from the Japanese text, Watashitachi no Kiryu, published by the Kiryu City Board of Education, 1997.
present-day Okanobori irrigation canal
Okanobori Shrine, Yabutsuka
岡上 景能（？∼１６８７）
桐生は織物の街ですが、繊維産業の中心地として発展してきた影には多くの
人々の努力がありました。
相生の岡登緑道に沿って灌漑用水が流れていて、この用水は、大間々町の高
津戸にあるはねたき橋のすぐ下から渡良瀬川の水を取り入れています。さらに
天沼小学校の裏を過ぎると笠懸町に入っていきます。そして、笠懸北小学校の
すぐ東の三俣で２つに分かれます。この用水は、笠懸町や薮塚本町の田畑を潤
し、この地域の米作りや野菜作りに役立っています。
笠懸町や薮塚本町をはじめ、天沼小学校のある天沼新田や天王宿あたりは、
土地も平らで広々としていますが、作物の育たない荒地でした。このあたりの
土地は、水が土の中にしみこみやすく、雨水だけでは作物を作ることができな
かったからです。そこでこのあたりの人々は井戸を掘って飲み水にしたり、作
物を育てたりしました。
しかし、この井戸も大変深く掘らなければ水が出てきませんでした。
岡上景能は１６６１年（寛文元年）代官（江戸時代の役人）として笠懸町の
鹿の川にやってきました。景能は広々とした野原を眺めながら、なんとか用水
路をつくり、この荒れ野を田や畑に変えたいと考えました。毎日のように荒れ
野を歩き、自分で地図を作り、渡良瀬川から水を引く計画を作りました。
いちばん心配されたのは、傾斜が少なく、しかも水が染みこみやすい土地で
あるため、水が良く流れないのではないかということでした。今なら、正確に
土地の高低を計れますが、そのころは、夜ちょうちんの灯りをもとに、水の流
れることを確かめたのです。江戸から調べに来た役人も、計画がよくできてい
るので、驚いたほどでした。
計画作りは４∼５年ほどかかりました。その後工事に取り掛かり完成は、１
６７２年（寛文１２年）だったようです。用水路はどこを掘っても石がゴロゴ
ロ出てきました。その上、相生町の天王宿から天沼新田にかけては８メートル
も深く掘らなければならない、大変な工事だったのです。影能は水不足に備え
て笠懸町に鹿の川沼を作り、そこに一旦水を引き入れました。そこから、さら
に
あかがね銅山
かいどう街道に沿って六千石村（薮塚本町）大村（新田町）へと、掘り進めまし
た。また、三俣分水を作り、竹沢や岩宿などへも水を流しました。この用水の
長さはおよそ１５ｋｍにもなります。掘り出した土砂は現在の大型ダンプカー
で２万３千台分にもなる量でした。
取り入れ口の工事
影能は、取り入れ口をどのようにするか考えました。簡単な取り入れ口では
大雨が降り、水かさが増すとすぐ壊されてしまうからです。
そのため岩を切り取ったり、岩を砕いてトンネルを掘ったりして取り入れ口
にすることにしました。かなづちやたがねを使っておよそ３０ｍも掘り進めま
した。当時の人は、どのようなことを思いながら堅い岩を砕き、トンネルを掘
っていったのでしょう。
岡登用水の完成
影能を中心に大勢の農民が血のにじむような努力をしてやっと用水が完成し
ました。１６７２年（寛文１２年）には、鹿田山のまわりに用水の水を引いて、
初めての田が開かれ、米作りができました。
「このあたりの農民はどんなにか嬉しかったことでしょうね」
「農民達は影能に感謝したことでしょうね」
ゆうこさんたちは用水の完成を喜ぶ農民の姿を想像してみました。
影能の死
影能は、用水を引くだけではなく、薮塚の大原に新しい村をつくりました。
しかし、用水が完成した後、下流に住む人たちから余分な水が湧き出したと
か、思ったほどの水が来なかったとか、色々な苦情が出されました。
また、大きな工事で沢山の年貢を使ってしまったことを幕府にとがめられま
した。そのため、影能は１６８７年（貞享４年）切腹して亡くなってしまいま
した。こうして用水もわずか１５年ほどで流れなくなってしまいました。
用水の再興
用水が流れなくなっておよそ１７０年後、天王宿村、下新田村の今泉吉右衛
門と今泉定右衛門は、村人と力を合わせながら６年もかけて水路を直しました。
こうして、岡登用水の上流に再び水が流れました。
（１８６２年、文久２年）
このときの水の取り入れ口は蕪町村にありました。この水のお陰で次々新し
い田が開かれました。
天王宿村と下新田村の工事からおよそ１０年後、薮塚村を中心とする新田郡
の村々が多くの費用をかけて水路を直しました。こうして再び下流にまで水が
流れました。現在の水路は、そのほとんどが地下を通っています。これは昭和
５６年の国の工事によるものです。この工事によって、今までの水の行かなか
った地域にも水が引かれるようになりました。
【わたしたちの桐生−４年−】
（桐生市教育委員会発行）より
ARAI TOEMON
(1678 - 1756)
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE SILK MARKET
Present-day Honcho was, in the Edo Era, known as Kiryu Shin Machi (originally Arato Shin Machi). Tenmangu Shrine stood at one end of Honcho with Jounji Temple at the other. From days long ago, Honcho was divided into districts, numbered from 1 to 6.
The Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, dispatched one of his samurai retainers, Okubo Nagayasu, to administer the Kiryu area. Okubo's assistant, Ono Hachiemon, planned and developed the town of Kiryu Shin Machi between the years 1590 and 1605.
In those days, the townspeople held a market for buying and selling
household goods on the grounds of Tenmangu Shrine. The market took place six times a month on days numbered 5 or 9 (5th, 9th, 15th, 19th,
25th, 29th). Initially, items sold were for daily life, but, little by little, agricultural products gave way to silk textiles as silk manufacturing grew in the town.
The market of the neighboring town, Omama, was conducted on the day before Kiryu's (4th, 8th, 14th, 18th, 24th, 28th). As a result, the
sale of raw silk and silk textiles was more active there. Some Kiryu
producers even took advantage of the earlier market in Omama by bringing their goods to be sold there instead.
A lively market served to support a thriving town economy. For this reason, Kiryu silk merchant, Arai Toemon, believed that Kiryu would have to change its market days to precede the market days of Omama in order to boost the Kiryu economy. However, changing a town's market days was not an easy matter. Toemon began a campaign to convince town leaders of the need to change the market days, and eventually succeeded in have them changed to the 3rd and 7th days of the month (3rd, 7th, 13th, 17th, 23rd, 27th), making them fall on the days preceding Omama's market days. This change came about in the year 1731. Another innovation introduced at the same time was to rotate the location of the market. Thus, Kiryu's silk market was held at 3 chome on the 3rd, 1 chome on the 7th, 5 chome on the 13th, 4 chome on the 17th, 2 chome on the 23rd, and 6 chome on the 27th. By rotating the location of the market, merchants in each one of Honcho's numbered districts would have an equal opportunity for selling their wares.
A NISHIJIN ARTISAN COMES TO KIRYU
By changing Kiryu's market days, Arai Toemon contributed significantly to the town's economic and industrial development, but his contributions were not limited to this. Silk textiles were manufactured in Kiryu long before the beginning of the Edo Era, however, with the onset of that era, the production of silk increased dramatically. Traditionally, textiles were
woven on "izaribata" (Backstrap horizontal loom at which the weaver sat prostrate on the floor). Such looms were tedious to use, and, therefore, the textiles produced were plain and low quality.
Around this same time, however, Kyoto weavers were using the
“takahata” or “sorahikibata” loom (drawloom) which allowed them to
produce high quality silk textiles with elaborately interwoven designs. In 1738, Shuto Heizo of Shimobishi Village (present day Hishi-machi), along with seven of his companions, invited a Nishijin (Kyoto) weaver, Nakamura Yahe, to come to Kiryu and assemble a sorahiki or takahata loom (drawloom) for them, which they then used to learn to weave “tobi saya”
or gossamer twill. This sort of silk could be used in many ways, and as a result, was sold at a higher price.
In a similar fashion, Toemon and his brother combined their efforts and invited the Kyoto Nishijin textile engineer, Izutsuya Kichibe, to come to Kiryu. He also assembled a takahata loom on which they learned to weave
“tobi saya.”
Toemon then helped this technology spread among Kiryu weavers by sending out a flyer to announce the workshop. It read as follows: “We have
invited a Kyoto Nishijin weaving expert to come to Kiryu. This new technology will soon revolutionize Kiryu textile
manufacturing. Anyone interested in learning the techniques of weaving “tobi
saya” should not hesitate to attend this
workshop. There is no fee for
participation. Please inform your friends and acquaintances of this opportunity.”
Toemon and his brother began weaving gossamer twill on the takahata loom in February, 1739, and it is believed that as a result of the announcement he sent around, many Kiryu weavers were able to learn this technology at the same time.
Shuto Heizo of Shimobishi Village (Hishi-machi) and his group who were instructed by Nakamura Yahe went on to instruct others as well. As a result, by 1741, there were over 40 takahata looms in operation in Kiryu manufacturing “tobi saya.”
The ability to weave high quality silk to be sold at a low price meant that not only was it in great demand in the immediate area, but in major consumer areas like Edo (present day Tokyo) as well. Customers from as far away as Kyoto and Osaka began to order Kiryu silk. Nishijin silk weavers in Kyoto became aware of the sudden stiff competition from Kiryu, and, as a result, in 1744, petitioned the Shogunate to enforce restrictions on Kiryu silk production.
NISHIJIN OF THE EAST
Once saya-ori (gossamer twill-weave silk) became a staple at Kiryu’s
monthly 6-day rotation market, it became known as the “Saya-ichi” or “gossamer twill-weave silk market.” Thanks to the efforts of Toemon in
changing Kiryu’s market days and in promoting the rapid spread of takahata
loom technology, Kiryu took on the reputation, “Nishijin of the East.”
[Kyoto - where Nishijin weavers reside - is located in the western part of Japan while Kiryu is located in the eastern part].
Toemon, who was born in 1678, died at the age of 78 in the year 1756. He lived a very long life considering the age in which he was born. He is buried in the cemetery at Jounji Temple in Honcho 6 chome.
Backstrap Horizontal Loom: (izaribata) was an early loom which had a harness which wrapped around the back of the weaver and was used to control the warp yarn. The weaver sat flat on the floor with his/her feet stretched out in front.
(Translated from Kiryu no Hito to Kokoro, published by the Kiryu City
15
Board of Education, 2003)
Treadle and Frame Loom: (shokki) has a bench on which the weaver sits. The treadle is a foot-operated lever which controls the warp yarn. The frame is a rectangular structure that holds the heddles, or a set of parallel cords or wires used to separate and guide the warp threads and make a path for the shuttle. This loom can only be used to produce plain cloth or cloth with simple patterns such as checks or stripes.
Drawloom: (sorahikibata or takahata) was a large and complicated loom used to produce cloth with intricate patterns such as brocade and tapestry. Operation of this loom required two people, the weaver and the
“draw boy” who sat on top of the loom. Under the direction of the weaver,
the draw boy raised and lowered individual heddles attached to each pattern warp thread. Eventually, this manual “draw” system was replaced
by the Jacquard device.
Kiryu's Saya-ichi had developed into a booming market by the beginning of the Meiji Era.
とび
飛
紗綾を
さ や ふきゅう普及させ織物を盛んにした
新居藤右衛門（１６７８∼１７５６）
あ ら い と う え も ん現在の本町通りは江戸時代、桐生新町（初めは
荒戸新町）と呼ばれていまし
あ ら とた。天満宮を町並みの起点とし、
じょううんじ浄運寺が締めの位置にあり、古くから１丁目
∼６丁目に区割りされていました。
桐生地方を治めるために派遣された徳川家康の家臣
大久保
お お く ぼながやす長安の
手代、
て だ い大野
お お の はち八
右衛門が
え も ん てん天
しょう正 １８年（１５９０）ごろから
けいちょう慶長１０年（１６０５）ごろま
での間に町並みを造りあげたと考えられています。町に住む人々が日常の生活
に必要なものを売り買いする「
いち市」は天満宮の境内で、神社の祭礼の日であっ
た５・９のつく日（月に６回）に開かれていました。初めは日用品の売買が中
心でしたが、近隣の農家が農業の合間に絹織物を織るようになったため、絹織
物が商品として活発に取引されるようになりました。
一方、隣の大間々町でも桐生よりも早くから「市」が開かされていて、市の
日は桐生の市の前日にあたる４・８の日でした。生糸や絹織物の取引は桐生よ
りも盛んでした。桐生の前日に開かれますから、桐生地方の人々も大間々の市
で取引してしまう人が多かったのです。
「市」の賑わいは町の発展の原動力です。桐生新町の絹買商・新居藤右衛門
は、どうしても市の日を大間々よりも前にしなければならないと考えました。
市日を変えることを市の立て替えといいますが簡単にはできないことです。藤
右衛門は弟の
治
じ兵衛や
へ え たまがみ玉上
じん甚
兵衛らと相談を重ね、
べ え きょうほう享保１６年（１７３１）
２月から大間々「市」の前日の３・７にしました。そして、市の場所も３日＝
３丁目、７日＝１丁目、１３日＝５丁目、１７日＝４丁目、２３日＝２丁目、
２７日＝６丁目の順で開くことを実現させました。町全体が均等に利益が得ら
れるよう循環制としたのでした。
京都から西陣織物師招き機屋に技術講習
市日の立て替えを成功させ、桐生新町の発展に貢献しましたが、藤右衛門は
もう一つ、桐生の織物を盛んにした偉大な業績を残しています。桐生地方では
江戸時代以前から絹織物が生産されていましたが、江戸時代になって桐生新町
が成り立つと一層、盛んに生産されるようになりました。しかし
居坐機といわ
い ざ り ば たれる構造の簡単な織機で生産される絹織物は高級な品質ではありませんでした。
そのころ、京都では「
たかはた高機」（
そら空
引き
ひ ばた機）という織機で、
もんよう紋様を織り出した高
級な織物が生産されていたのです。
元文３年（１７３８）
しもひし下菱村（菱町）の
しゅうとうへいぞう周藤平蔵は仲間７人と共に、京都
西陣の織物の技術者・中村
弥
や兵衛を招いて、高機を組み立てさせ、「
へ え とび飛
紗綾」
さ やという織物を織る技術を習いました。紋様が織り出される飛紗綾は用途も広く、
高い値段で売ることができました。
新居藤右衛門も弟の治兵衛と力をあわせ、江戸に住んでいた京都西陣の織物技
術者の
井筒屋
い づ つ やきち吉
兵衛という人を見つけ、桐生に招いて、周藤平蔵グループと同
べ えじように、織機を組み立て飛紗綾を織ることができるようになりました。藤右
衛門はこの新しい技術を桐生地方の
機屋に広め、桐生の織物を盛んにしたいと
は た や考え、次のような
かいじょう廻状（回覧して知らせる）を出しました。
「この度、京都から西陣織物師を桐生へ招きました。新しい織物は桐生の織
物の産物になるでしょう。
飛
ひ紗綾機を習いたい人は遠慮なくおいでください。
さ や ば た謝礼は一切いりません。知り合いの方にもこのことをお知らせください。
」
藤右衛門と治兵衛が「高機」で飛紗綾を織ったのは
げんぶん元文４年（１７３９）２
月でしたが、藤右衛門の廻文を見て、大勢の機屋が新しい織物技術を熱心に学
んだものと思われます。下菱村の周藤平蔵のグループを指導した中村弥兵衛も
他の人達の指導に加わりました。そのため元文６年（１７４１）には飛紗綾を
織れる織機が４０台以上にもなりました。
良質な織物を安い価格で売ったので近隣はもちろん、大消費地の江戸からた
くさんの注文がくるようになりました。さらに大阪や京都からも注文がくるよ
うにまでなったので、京都西陣の織物業者は、急激に発展した織物産地桐生に
脅威を感じ、
えんきょう延享元年（１７４４）幕府に桐生の織物生産を制限するよう願
い出るほどでした。
紗綾市の開催で「東の西陣」に
桐生の
ろくさいいち六斎市（月６回の市）では生産された飛紗綾がたくさん取引され、
「
紗綾市」といわれるようになりました。藤右衛門の強力な指導力で実現した
さ や い ち市日の立て替えと、飛紗綾の急速な普及という二大事業は、当時の桐生の織物
業を著しく繁栄させてばかりでなく、その後、桐生画「東の西陣」といわれる
ほど有名な織物産地となっていく基を築いたものであったといえるでしょう。
えんぽう延宝６年（１６７８）に生まれた藤右衛門が亡くなったのは
ほうれき宝暦６年（１７
５６）でした。７８歳でしたからそのころにしては長生きの方でした。墓地は
本町６丁目の浄運寺にあります。
【桐生の人と心】
（桐生市教育委員会発行）より
IWASE KICHIBE
(1746-1822)
Inventor of the Multi-Spindle Yarn
Thrower
In 1775, an Edo Era traveler by the name of Takayama Hikokuro recorded in his journal that spinning wheels were in operation in
Shinshuku, driven by undershot water wheels which were turned by the flow of water in the Akaiwa mill race (canal). About 90 years had passed since the Kyoto “takahata” or “sorahikibata” loom (drawloom) had been
introduced in Kiryu. Kiryu was now flourishing as a result of its efforts in textile manufacturing.
Hydraulic Power Enables Mass-Production of Silk Yarn
It is common knowledge that textiles are produced by interweaving weft and warp yarn. By using fibers which have been twisted, it is possible to weave stronger and more lustrous textiles while at the same time greatly varying their texture and appearance.
Looking at crepe, for example, it is easy to realize the extent to which the finished product is influenced by the type of twisted yarn used in its manufacture. Another example is “yuzen,” a fabric used to make elegant
kimonos. Yuzen has many small grains or “crimps” which are created by
the yarn itself.
Kiryu began manufacturing silk crepe around the year 1743. The silk yarn used to weave crepe was thrown on a spinning wheel, one strand at a time. This technique was learned in Kyoto by the Kiryu
wheelwright,
Minegishi Katsuemon, who lived in the Miyahigashi district of Kiryu (present-day Higashi
Hisakatacho). It was Iwase Kichibe who then improved this spinning wheel by
18 One-way twisting hachoguruma
making it possible to twist or throw many strands of silk yarn at once and to do so with water power, thereby drastically reducing the amount of manpower required.
Kichibe was born in 1746 in Naka village in the Yuki district of Shimofusa Province (present-day Yuki City, Ibaraki Prefecture). His family were farmers, so it was only natural for him to follow in this profession. Kichibe, however, searched for a way to make better use of his talents. In time, he met a man who showed him the way. In the year 1778, Kichibe, now age 33, made his way to Kiryu and apprenticed himself to the wheelwright mentioned above, Minegishi Katsuemon. The term wheelwright now refers chiefly to someone who manufactures water wheels, however, at that time, Minegishi was already specializing in the production of spinning wheels. After a time, Kichibe resigned from service there, and began independently to work on a method to improve the single-strand yarn throwing spinning wheel. To achieve this, he first traveled to Yamashiro Province (present-day Kyoto City) to inspect the then famous “river pool water wheel.” A multi-strand spinning wheel was
already in use at that time in the Kansai area of Japan and it is believed that Kichibe also inspected this machine as well.
Returning to Kiryu, Kichibe decided to improve the spinning wheel by connecting it to a water wheel, and as a result of his diligence, his water wheel-driven multi-thread spinning wheel (“hachoguruma”) was
completed in 1763.
This yarn twisting machine was equipped with many spindles and could twist many strands of silk yarn at the same time. In addition, it was driven by a water wheel. Compared with the spinning wheels of former days, his new invention dramatically improved production efficiency. Seemingly overnight, Kichibe’s “hachoguruma” (silk throwing machine)
was adopted by manufacturers who had access to a water supply. Three years later, in 1786, it is recorded that a water wheel-driven
“hachoguruma” was installed on the Suwanose branch of the Watarase
River in Kiryu’s neighboring village of Hajika (present day Hajika-machi,
Ashikaga City.) Kichibe died in 1822 at the age of 76.
Meiji Period (1878). Photo of water wheels which could be raised or lowered on the Akaiwa mill race (canal) along Shinshuku Road in Kiryu.
A Meter for the Silk Yarn Thrower
Kasahara Kichiro (1810-1878), Kichibe’s grandson, invented a meter
to attach to the yarn thrower to enable silk yarn makers to measure the amount of yarn produced. This invention further perfected Kichibe’s “hachoguruma.”
Kichiro studied textile designing under the supervision of Ishida Kyuya,
and became an excellent designer. In 1840, he invented a machine for graphing patterns (mongami) called a “keihiki kikai” or line drawing
machine, making the work of pattern technicians (monko) considerably easier and more efficient.
(Translated from Kiryu no Hito to Kokoro, published by the Kiryu City Board of Education, 2003)
* Probable Meaning of “Hacho” in “Hachoguruma” (Silk Yarn
Thrower):
While there are various interpretations to this phrase, the most widely accepted refers to the 8 (“ha” meaning eight in Japanese) spokes of the
wheel. The character “cho” in Kanji (丁) resembles the spoke as it is
attached to the rim of the wheel, thus the expression, “hacho” or
eight-spoked wheel. The wheel here does not refer to the water wheel which was used as a source of power, but to the spinning wheel which was used to twist the silk yarn. Present day wheels are built with 16 spokes, but the original wheels had eight.
