An Ancient Go and"Village"

An Evaluation of the Hachigaya Site, Yamabe-gun, Kazusa Province

Abstract

In the Nara and Heian periods, Yamabe-gun in Kazusa Province was classified as a smaller county (gegun). Many site surveys have been conducted over the area occupied by this county, including the place thought to be the location of the county seat (gunga). Many studies have also been published on this topic, not just in archaeology but also using historical documents. As regards archaeological materials relating to the go level, however, we have had to accept limits with respect to our understanding of the nature of these units and it cannot be said that sufficient research results have been obtained.
From surrounding surveys, the site discussed in this article can be thought to show the actual nature of the go in Ya-mabe-gun. In particular, it was thought that the nature of the buildings at the site could be determined from analysis of the pillared structures. From comparison with historical documents, it was also possible to test for the presence of a tachi established separately to the go, an official residence, and a Go-shosoin storehouse. Furthermore, the encouragement of agriculture and plundering which encouraged loans had a large influence on the"village", and from a general view, it could be seen that not a few changes were seen in the existing community.
It is no exaggeration to say that it was the go and village chiefs and wealthy peasants who, under the control of the county, directly controlled the ordinary peasants forming the leading edge of the Ritsuryo system of exploitation. If we imagine that the rulers of the county belonged to upper-class clans, then these were probably members of lower-class clans. Gradually in the 9 th century, the influence of this class expanded and was one of the main causes of the changes in the Ritsuryo system.