Gunchujo : One Step Beyond

Abstract

In this essay the author examines two diplomatic forms, gunchujo (requests for recognition of superior military valor) and chakutojo (petitions for recognition of performance of emergency military duty), contained in the archives of the Sagara and Nagaike Families, from the viewpoint that while individual petitioners vary, the form of the documents as well as their caligraphy are in many cases exactly the same not only for members of the same family but also between different families. From this observation the author points out : 1)There are many cases in which the family heads (Soryo) both authored and requested military recognition in the name of their illegitimate brothers, cousins, etc. (Shoshi) 2)There are also cases in which, on the return of recognized petitions, they were sent through the family heads and delivered to the bastard members. 3)There are even cases in which the family heads had kept in their possession approved petitions addressed to illegitimate members. The author also considers the process of writing requests for proprietorship or fief security, and comes to the following conclusions : (1)The commanding position of the family head, which the author points out above, could be found in the Kamakura period after the transition toward primogeniture in samurai families was completed. (2)In the Nanbokucho period and after, attempts were made to iron out points of conflict between the family head and bastard members through the formation of kinship based ikki (a band of warriors linked by mutual agreement).