Onchi

In the Middle Ages, a lord granted land to his servant as a reward for military achievements or loyal service. Also called onryo, it was given as a reward for the land and position, not as the land itself, but as a usufruct right related to the land. Onchi was especially protected, but on the other hand, there were many restrictions. Under the Kamakura Shogunate Law, privately owned shiryo could be sold, but buying and selling onchi was not permitted, and violators were punished (Goseibai Shikimoku, Article 48). The same additional law also included detailed restrictions, wary of land being passed on to an ignorant third party through pawning or gifting. The Muromachi Shogunate also prohibited sales, but allowed land sales and pawning within a set period. During the Sengoku period, a distinction was made between private land and onchi, and onchi was subject to greater taxes and restrictions on buying and selling.

[Masahiro Kiuchi]

“Japanese Thought Series 21 Medieval Political and Social Thought Part 1” (New edition, 1994, Iwanami Shoten), annotated by Susumu Ishii, Tadashi Ishimoda et al.

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中世において主従関係を結んだ主君が、従者の戦功や仕官忠勤の奉公に対し、恩賞として給与した所領。恩領とも呼ばれ所領・所職の給与として、土地そのものよりも土地に関する職務的用益権として与えられた。恩地はとくに保護されたが反面規制も多く、鎌倉幕府法では私有地である私領は売却できるが恩地の売買は許されず、違反者は罰せられた（『御成敗式目』48条）。同追加法においても流質したり贈与などで由緒ない第三者に渡ることを警戒して細かく規制している。室町幕府も売却を禁じたが、年紀を限った売地と入質だけは許した。戦国時代にも私領と恩地は区別され、恩地はより大きな課役と売買制限が加えられていた。

［木内正広］

『石井進・石母田正他校注『日本思想大系21　中世政治社会思想　上』（新装版、1994・岩波書店）』

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