A Study on the Bekawa-Ferry-Nakata Barrier Situated near a Ferry of Tone gawa.

Abstract

Bakawa-Ferry-Nakata Barrier, also called Kurihashi Barrier, was named after the two places, Bakawa and Nakata, because it was situated near a ferry of the Tone-gawa going from Kurihashi (Saitama Prefecture) to Nakata (Ibaraki Prefecture). It was established there because on the east there was the great plain of Kwanta, while on the west there were several barriers like those of Hakone, Kobotoke and Usui. The purpose was to secure the public peace and order in Yedo (Tokyo).
The barrier above mentioned was, as shown in the picture, surrounded with a wooden fence, 14 ken in length and 15 ken in width, in the center of which there stood a barrier-office covering about 16 tsubo in area, guarded by four armed soldiers, who in turn watched on the passengers who went through the barrier.
As in all barriers, women and those carrying weapons were closely examined at this barrier. But those who were most severely examined were the so-called “coming-in-gun” (iri-teppo) and “going-out-woman” (de-onna). This indeed was to prevent guns entering Yedo which were considered to break its public peace and order, and wives or daughters of feudal lords who were forced to stay at Yedo as hostages, and this was the policy of the feudal government.