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One of the manor management agencies. It is also read as "Azukassho" and called "Chuji". As a representative of the ryoke (lord), they commanded lower-ranking manor officials (kumon, geshi) and were in charge of managing the manor land and collecting annual taxes and official affairs. In the early days of manors, there were those simply called "Azukari" who managed the manors alongside sento (sento) and kengyo (kengyo). In manors based on donated land, the lord or landowner who donated the land was sometimes appointed as the azukari and continued to effectively manage the manor as before. In manors based on temple land, temple monks were often appointed as the azukari at first, and from the late Heian period onwards, local samurai were often appointed as the azukari. The azukari's share was not fixed, but they were given land and lands. In particular, the person who represented the lord in litigation was called a Zassho.

[Takeshi Abe]

"History of Japanese Manors" by Takeshi Abe (1972, Ohara Shinseisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

荘園(しょうえん)管理機関の一つ。「あずかっしょ」とも読み、「中司(ちゅうじ)」ともいう。領家(りょうけ)（領主）の代理者として下級荘官（公文(くもん)、下司(げし)）を指揮し、荘地の管理や年貢、公事(くじ)の収納をつかさどった。発生期の荘園には単に「預(あずかり)」とよぶものがあり、専当(せんとう)や検校(けんぎょう)と並んで荘園を管理した。寄進地系荘園では、寄進者である領主や地主が預所に任命されて、それまでどおり実質的に荘園を管理する場合があった。寺領荘園では初め寺僧が、平安後期からは在地の武士が預所に任命されることが多くなった。預所の得分(とくぶん)は一定しないが、給田(きゅうでん)や佃(つくだ)を与えられた。とくに訴訟の場合に領家の代理となるものを雑掌(ざっしょう)といった。

［阿部　猛］

『阿部猛著『日本荘園史』（1972・大原新生社）』

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