Obi Domain

This was a Tozama domain with its headquarters in Obi, Naka County, Hyuga Province (Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture). Its rice yield was 51,000 koku. The domain's lord, the Ito clan, was a descendant of Kudo Suketsune. Its origins date back to 1587 (Tensho 15), when Ito Suketake was awarded 1,736 cho in both Naka and Miyazaki counties in recognition of his contribution to guiding Toyotomi Hideyoshi into Kyushu. During the reign of the 5th lord, Sukezane, from the Kanbun to Enpo eras (1661-81), the Obi Castle was renovated and improved, the father and son of the domain's most powerful elder retainer, Ito Kageyu, were expelled, the border between Miyakonojo and the Shimazu domain was established, and the Goshi system was introduced, and the domain's system was more or less established. However, after the 6th lord, Sukenaga, took over the title, the domain's finances began to deteriorate, and in order to restore the finances, the 10th lord, Sukeatsu, appointed Nonaka Kin'emon, a capable official of foot soldier rank, to "Sugikatayaku" (Cedar Officer) in 1796 (Kansei 8) and had him start a reforestation project, and the 11th lord, Suketami, who took over in 1798, encouraged the cultivation of kozo (paper mulberry) and promoted a paper monopoly. As a result, the name of Obi cedar spread throughout the country, and Hyuga washi paper became famous along with that of other domains. During Suketami's reign, a school was established in the castle town in 1801 (Kyowa 1), which sparked a strong academic spirit within the domain, and in 1827 (Bunsei 10), a local school called Meikyodo was established in Nakano, Kiyotake. Suketomo, the 13th lord, then opened a new domain school called Shintokudo in 1830 (Tenpo 1), and tasked Yasui Soshu and his son Sokuken with educating the children of domain samurai. However, during Sukesuke's reign, a time of internal and external troubles, the domain's finances became even more strained due to the need for coastal defense and other measures, and before long, with no prospect of recovery in sight, the domain participated in the Boshin War as a domain that overthrew the shogunate in 1868 (Keio 4), and the Meiji era began. In 1871 (Meiji 4), the domain was abolished, and after passing through the prefectures of Obi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima, it was incorporated into Miyazaki Prefecture, which was re-established in 1883.

[Kenzen Uehara]

"History of Hyuga Province, Volume 2" by Sadakichi Kita and Shigetaka Hidaka (1930, Shishi Publishing) " "History of Miyazaki Prefecture" by Tsuguyoshi Hidaka (1970, Yamakawa Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日向(ひゅうが)国那珂(なか)郡飫肥（宮崎県日南(にちなん)市）に藩庁を置いた外様(とざま)藩。石高5万1000石。藩主伊東氏は工藤祐経(すけつね)の後裔(こうえい)。1587年（天正15）の豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の九州入りを嚮導(きょうどう)した功により、伊東祐兵(すけたけ)が那珂・宮崎両郡に1736町を給されたのに始まる。5代祐実(すけざね)の代には、寛文(かんぶん)から延宝(えんぽう)期（1661～81）にかけて飫肥城の修築整備、藩随一の実力者家老伊東勘解由(かげゆ)父子の排斥、都城(みやこのじょう)島津領との境界確定、郷士制度の導入などが挙行され、いちおう藩体制の確立をみた。しかし、6代祐永(すけなが)の襲封後、藩財政は悪化し始め、10代祐鐘(すけあつ)は財政立て直しのために、1796年（寛政8）徒士(かち)身分の能吏野中金右衛門(のなかきんえもん)を「杉方役」に登用して植林事業をおこさせ、さらに98年に襲封した11代祐民(すけたみ)は楮(こうぞ)の栽培を奨励し、紙専売制を推進した。これにより、飫肥杉の名は全国に広まり、和紙も他藩のそれとともに日向和紙の名を高くした。また祐民の代には、1801年（享和1）城下に学問所が設けられたのを契機に、藩内に大いに向学の気風がおこり、27年（文政10）には清武(きよたけ)中野に郷校(ごうこう)明教堂(めいきょうどう)も誕生した。ついで13代祐相(すけとも)も1830年（天保1）に新たに藩校振徳堂(しんとくどう)を開き、安井滄洲(そうしゅう)・息軒(そくけん)父子に藩士の子弟の教育にあたらせた。しかし、すでに内憂外患の時を迎えた祐相の代には、海防等のために藩財政はいっそう窮迫化し、やがてその再建の目途もたたないまま、1868年（慶応4）には倒幕藩として戊辰(ぼしん)戦争に参戦、明治を迎えた。1871年（明治4）廃藩、飫肥、都城、宮崎、鹿児島の各県を経て、83年再置の宮崎県に編入された。

［上原兼善］

『喜田貞吉・日高重孝著『日向国史　下巻』（1930・史誌出版社）』▽『日高次吉著『宮崎県の歴史』（1970・山川出版社）』

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