The Shinryo-Kogyo-Ho and the Tandai in Chinzei

Abstract

This article attempts to make clear one aspect of local condition in the nothern part of Kyushu at the end of Kamakura period by examing the political and social struggles which arose after the enactment of the shinryo-kogyo-ho. This Reguration was enacted in the first year of Shouwa (1312) and dealt with matters pertaining to the estates belonging to the five shrines in Chinzei (Usa, Hakozaki, Kora, Kasii and Dazaifu). The aim of the reguration was to protect these estates from encroachment by jito and gokenin and thus to maintain the old manorial system. Parts of these estates had come under the control of jito and gokenin either through purchase or seizure over the years, According to the provisions of the shinryo-kogyo-ho, all such land was to be returned to the original propreietar-c. i. the shrines. Although several similiar decreas had been issued before, this regulation of the first year of Sh8u;a was far more through and rigorous and thus must be considered extremely significant. The attemps to enforce this regulation, as a matter of course, led to a stubborn and widespread resistance on the part of the jito and gokenin. The reason why this resistance was so strong was that such cultivators as the shoji, genin, myoshu and zaike (who were elements of newly arisen jito-ryoshu system of which the jito and gokenin were leading powers) had undermined the productive structure of the traditional manorial system by constantly striving to their agricultural operations through purchase, reclamation etc.