Oniwaban

One of the positions in the Edo Shogunate. Established by the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. Controlled by Wakadoshiyori. It began in 1716 (Kyoho 1), when Yoshimune appointed 17 of his retainers brought from Kishu, including Muragaki Sadayu, as Ohiroshiki Igamono (Iga samurai) to investigate the movements of the Ooku. In 1719, he reorganized them into Oniwaban, setting up a guard post under the base of the Honmaru castle tower, and establishing separate guardhouses in the Ninomaru rest area and the Maruyama Satomon gate to the west. Their daily duties were to take turns guarding the gates of each palace every evening, and as an intelligence agency directly under the Shogun, they would sometimes carry out direct business for the Shogun, or act as intermediaries for business, or receive internal orders from the Elders to investigate the movements of daimyo and the state of civil administration. The duties were hereditary for 17 families, but some of them were extinct, and some second and third sons were raised to branch families, so the number of families and the number of people increased and decreased over the years. There were also classes such as Ryoban rank (200 koku) for those with an audience with the Emperor or higher, Kojunin rank (100 koku, stipend), Soebannami rank (50 koku, stipend), and Oniwa no monchi (seven people's stipend). Some of them, such as Kajino Tosa no Kami, Myoraku Hida no Kami, and Muragaki Awaji no Kami (Sadayuki), were promoted to the position of Finance Magistrate.

[Ichiro Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府の役職の一つ。8代将軍徳川吉宗(よしむね)の創設。若年寄支配。1716年（享保1）吉宗が紀州から連れてきた家臣のうち、村垣左太夫ら17人を御広敷伊賀者(おひろしきいがもの)に任命して、大奥の動向を探らせたのに始まる。19年これを改編して御庭番とし、番所を本丸天守台下に設け、また二の丸御休息(ごきゅうそく)、西の丸山里門に詰所を分置し、毎夕交替で宿直して各御殿の門庭の警備にあたることを日常の任務とし、また将軍直属の諜報(ちょうほう)機関として、ときに将軍の御直御用(おんじきごよう)、または御用取次、老中の内命を受けて、大名の動静や民政の実情などの探索にあたった。職掌上、17家の世襲とされたが、なかには絶家したもの、二男、三男で分家に取り立てられたものなどがあり、年代により家数、人員に増減がみられる。また御目見(おめみえ)以上の両番格（200俵高）、同以下の小十人(こじゅうにん)格（100俵高、持扶持(もちぶち)）、添番並(そえばんなみ)（50俵高、持扶持）、御庭之者支配（役扶持七人扶持）などの階層があり、なかには梶野土佐守(かじのとさのかみ)、明楽飛騨守(ひだのかみ)、村垣淡路守(むらがきあわじのかみ)（定行）のように勘定奉行に昇進した者もある。

［渡邉一郎］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例