Japan -- History; Japan -- Politics and government
Iyeyas took up his residence at Yedo, in the castle which had been
built at a former period by Owota do kwang, and which was formerly
known by the name Tchi oda, and is at times still so called. Large sums
of money were expended upon this residence. It was increased greatly
in size. A deep trench or moat was dug round it, cutting it off from
communication, except by the gates, with the town. This trench or moat
was and is kept filled by a canal drawn off from the Rokungo kawa, near
the village of Omaro, about nine miles from Yedo. At Miako the castle
of Nijio Maro is his residence.
At Osaka, the large castle, formerly the temple of Hoonganji, and the
residence of Buddhist priesthood, afterward converted into a castle or
fort by Taikosama, is in possession of the Shiogoon.
At Surunga, the castle formerly belonging to Imagawa is kept up at his
expense.
In Kahi, the castle of Kofu, formerly the property of Takeda, is
another residence, while in different provinces there are minor seats
or residences occupied by retainers and officers.
Iyeyas was buried at Nikko san, where a magnificent temple was reared
in his honor, to which repair at certain times his descendants and the
officers of the dynasty to pay reverence to his names, to commemorate
his greatness, or in the way of official duty.
CHAPTER IX
THE DAIMIOS
In the above laws Iyeyas speaks of Daimios and Shomios, among whom
the territories at his disposal were to be divided. The division was
made in the ratio of twenty millions to the Daimios to eight millions
which he reserved to himself. “Daimio” is compounded of two Chinese
words, signifying “great name”; “Shomio” is “little name.” The latter
title has fallen into disuse, and is generally replaced by Hattamoto,
meaning “the root or foundation of the flag.” The Daimio class may be
considered to include every officer who holds directly of the Shiogoon,
and has an official income from land held of the Shiogoon of the annual
value of 10,000 koku of rice and upward. The real value of a koku is
difficult to ascertain, as it varies much at different times, whether
it be looked upon as a measure of rice or as a coin--a kobang, as it
is commonly reckoned. Of 4 kobangs assayed by the United States mint
the variation was from 3 dollars 57 cents to 5 dollars 95 cents, or
from 15s. to 24s. 10,000 koku are considered equal to 25,000 piculs of
rice, or nearly 4,000,000 pounds. There are many men whose incomes are
upward of 10,000 koku, but who do not hold their land of the Shiogoon,
but of some Daimio. Such are not Daimios, but servants or retainers of
a Daimio, known sometimes as “By shing.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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