<Articles>The State Control of Land and the Place Designation System in the Nara Period

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  • <論説>奈良時代の土地管理と小字地名的名称
  • 奈良時代の土地管理と小字地名的名称
  • ナラ ジダイ ノ トチ カンリ ト コアザ チメイテキ メイショウ

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Abstract

In the first half of the eighth century, the place-name-like designation of small pieces of land was the principal way of indicating the location of those pieces of land. This designation was similar in function to the small place name, but was more primitive and less stable than a place name. By the middle of the eighth century the jori plan, which was a systematic and comprehensive place indication system, was completed and functioned to indicate the location of lands for administration. In spite of this new development, the place-name-like designation was still used side by side with the jori indication system at least until the end of the eighth century. In this paper, the author examines all maps and most manorial documents, drawn or written in the eighth century. As a result, another important function of the place-name-like designation has been discovered : most pieces of arable land had such designations and these lands were taxed. On the other hand, privately owned dry fields, artificial forests, and pre-existing temple paddies did not carry such designations ; these lands were tax-free. Thus we can see that place-name-like designations were, for the most part, used for lands which had to bear land tax. Differing patterns of land use (e. g. paddy cultivation, dry field, forest) were not the principal factor in determining whether a piece of land was subject to land tax. Accordingly, under the state control system, the place-name-like designation was an indication that a land was taxed. This was reason why the designation was still used after the jori plan had been completed.

Journal

  • 史林

    史林 78 (4), 489-522, 1995-07-01

    THE SHIGAKU KENKYUKAI (The Society of Historical Research), Kyoto University

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