What the present writer aims to do in this monograph is, first, to reconsider the meaning of
ryodo (territory) as a materialistic basis of the rural community, and, second, by clarifying the dual aspect of
mura (that is,
mura as a spontaneously-developed community and also as an administrative unit), to investigate its process of differentiation through
manzo (the total expenses for working and maintaining
mura). Figures and all the other data used here are depending on the investigation of the three villages in Toyama city (two of which are remarkably urbanized, while one is not yet under the influence of urbanization).
So far, the rural community in Japan has consisted of small farmers. In the farmers' household, life and production are not differentiated from one another, so that any changes in conditions of their life brings about the corresponding changes in their procuction, and vice versa. Changes both in life and production causes differentiation of life from production, and consequently, gives some influence on
mura unit. As life comes to differentiate from production, that is, as life becomes independent of production,
mura unit turns into a production unit. If life is so much urbanized, and if production develops so much as to establish itself as an industry and as to feel no necessity of having
mura unit, we may even expect that
mura unit will break down.
It is a question, however, whether the above-mentioned hypothesis can be applicable to the real rural community. There are three questions at least to be asked before we accept such a hypothesis of collapse of
mura unit. First, can life be clearly and completely differentiated from production in the village life ? Secondly, will
mura unit be entirely unnecessary if life becomes urbanized and if production gets industrialized ? The third question is this : if farmers cannot afford a great deal of capital which is necessary for industrializing production, and therefore must financially depend on administration, the aspect of
mura as an administrative unit (which is a convenient unit for the government in order to grasp farmers) will be emphasized, and so
mura unit will be strengthened.
The present monograph intends to deal with these three questions, with a special emphasis on the third question. Here ryodo is presented as a materialistic basis of
mura unit. The writer's future study plan is to make a further analysis of the meaning of
ryodo, for he believes that it will really contribute to understanding the essential character of rural community.
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