Characteristics of "Goho-ikki" (護法一揆 Religious revolt) in the early Meiji era : Analyses of "Meiji 6th Echizen-dai-ikki" (越前大一揆 Echizen area great revolt)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the real qualities of "Gohd-ikki" [護法一揆 Revolt for protecting "Shinshu sect" (真宗)] in the early Meiji era, by analyzing "Meij 6th Echizen-dai-ikki" (Echizen area great revolt). As is generally known, peasantry revolt occurred frequently during the period of enforcement of the Meiji government's new policies, such as census-taking, educational reforms, land certificate and conscription systems, etc. after the "Hanzeki-hokan" (版籍奉還) and "Haihan-chiken" (廃藩置県, Abolition of feudal clans and establishment of prefectures). In this case, we must pay special attention to the rise of the "Goho-ikki" in the Shinshu sect areas all over the country during the same period. Above all, "Echizen-dai-ikki," which is regarded as part of the "Goho-ikki," was quite large in scale, equal to "Meiji 5th Shinetsu-chiho-doko-hoki-jiken" (信越地方土寇蜂起事件, Shinetsu area native revolt). The author can confirm that about 30,000 revolters appeared in the 3 guns of Ono, Imadate and Sakai of Tsuruga prefecture. Researchers in the past were apt to take a serious view of the religious or reactionary factors in this revolt. Though the actual revolt directly shows the religious aspect, a more in-depth analysis is needed for the study of this revolt's historical character. Studying the revolters' demands, attack objectives and rebel leaders' social strata, we cannot but recognize a kind of peasantry revolt in the true nature. Especially, the destructions of "Kucho" (区長) and "Kocho" (戸長) homes, (who were wealthy upper class landholders, merchants and rulers in direct contact with the people under the control of the Meiji government) the branch office of the former Asuwa-ken, "Jinshin" (壬申) land certificates, "Shoho-kaisha" (商法会社), "Kosatsujo" (高札場, notice-sheds) and "Kyodoshoku" (教導職) temples should be noted. This shows that the character of this revolt opposed Meiji political power. Therefore, the general movement of "Gohd-ikki" in the early Meiji era, though caused derectly by religious motives, is in conformity with the combined types of "Yonaoshi-ikki" (世直し一揆) and Sobyakusho-ikki (惣百姓一揆) revolts, struggling against the various contradictions resulting from the many new policies of the Meiji government. After all, from the viewpoint of the popular opinion, we can find important historical significance in the "Echizen-dai-ikki", which made Meiji political power aiming at "Modernization from Above" expose a semifeudalistic and absolute character.