New example of mutual trade between ships and ocean

This ordinance on trade in Nagasaki was enacted by the Edo Shogunate in 1715 (5th year of Shotoku). It is also called the "New Ordinance of Shotoku." It stipulated trade regulations in general, including trade amounts and the number of ships arriving. The number of Chinese ships arriving was limited to 30 per year, with a trade value of 6,000 kanme of silver, including 3 million kin of copper. Dutch ships were limited to two per year, with a trade value of 3,000 kanme of silver, including 1.5 million kin of copper. The number of Chinese ships was further determined by the region they departed from, and those who pledged to abide by this ordinance were given a ration for port entry. Nagasaki jigenin (residents) were paid a fixed amount of 70,000 ryo as trade interest (jigenin distribution money). The main contents of the ordinance included loaning traders 15,000 ryo as an advance payment for purchasing export goods. Trade restrictions were strengthened from 1685 (Jokyo 2), but this led to smuggling and made it difficult to transport copper to Nagasaki for export, leading to poverty for the Nagasaki people. As a result, Arai Hakuseki made an effort to issue this ordinance. From then on, this remained the basic policy for Nagasaki trade until the end of the Bunsei era (1818-1830).

[Tatsuya Tsuji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1715年（正徳5）江戸幕府が制定した長崎貿易に関する条例。「正徳(しょうとく)の新令」ともいう。貿易額・来航船数その他総合的に貿易規則を定めた。来航唐船（中国船）は1年間30艘(そう)に限り、貿易銀高6000貫目、うち銅を300万斤。オランダ船は年2艘、銀高3000貫目、うち銅150万斤。唐船に対してはさらにその出航地域によって船数を定め、この条例に従うことを誓約した者に入港許可の割符(わりふ)を渡す。長崎地下人(じげにん)（住民）には貿易利金として定額金7万両を支給（地下配分金）。貿易商人には輸出品買入前金として1万5000両を貸し付けることなどを主内容とする。貿易制限は1685年（貞享2）から強化されたが、そのため密貿易も行われ、また輸出すべき銅の長崎廻送も円滑を欠き、長崎地下人の窮乏を招くに至った。そこで新井白石(あらいはくせき)が努力して、この条例を発布したのである。以後、長崎貿易の基本方針として文政(ぶんせい)（1818～30）末年にまで及んだ。

［辻　達也］

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