A study of salt fields along the Seto inland sea coast in modern times

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Other Title
  • 瀬戸内海に於ける塩田の研究—多喜浜塩田開拓の場合—
  • 近世瀬戸内海塩田の研究(史料篇)-続-讃岐国高屋浜の場合
  • キンセイ セトナイカイ エンデン ノ ケンキュウ シリョウ ヘン ゾク サヌキノクニ コウヤハマ ノ バアイ
  • 瀬戸内海に於ける塩田の研究--多喜浜塩田開拓の場合
  • セトナイカイ ニ オケル エンデン ノ ケンキュウ タキハマ エンデン カイタク ノ バアイ

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Abstract

My article begins with s treatment of salt interest in the "early period" of the Tokugawa regime, and extends down to the Genroku era (1600-1688). During this period, which covers eighty-eight years, the warlike atmosphere of the Keicho and Genna eras had been dissipated, and the foundation of the Tokugawa Shognate was firmly laid. Peace was restored throughout the country. As a result the local provincial aristocracy should have become more or less prosperous, but as a matter of fact the situation was quite the reverse, and they became impoverished. Almost every han had difficulty in financial matters. The increasing financial difficulties of both the Samurai class and the farming class, forced the former to become tight fisted and the latter to increase production, clearing new farm lands or salt fields. Farmers were obliged to cultivate around the foot of the mountains, or to build banks to prepare salt-field in the shallow sea. Some scholars say that there was scarcely any increase in the population during the Tokugawa era. It may be safely asserted that this was partly owing to the birth-control or Mabiki (infanticide) and partly owing to the shortage of food production. But there is reason to believe, that unless the farmers cultivated and cleared new land, it was very difficult to lead comfortable lives. Saijo-han, In Iyo no Kuni, which was one of the smallest hans-only 30,000 koku being paid-encouraged salt production. Every local lord was obliged to increase its farm production. An earnest desire to clear new land became very popular among feudal lords in the 17th century, and at the end of this period known as Genroku the feeling seems to have reached its hight. The present article treats of one of the most significant cases of this type of clearing salt-fields. To be sure, it was not easy to build banks in the sea-shore, and the Irihama-style field needs many banks. Fukao Gondaiu planned to build large banks in the sea between Kuroshima-island and the Takihama sea-shore in 1703. As we have ...

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