Kamichodai - Kamichodai

...The first appearance of the names of five machidai was in the Tensho 10th year (1582) entry in the Reizeicho Daifukucho Register, and it is believed that in the early days, they were a supporting organization for the Shoshidai's execution of town administration, but after the establishment of the Kyoto Machibugyosho in 1668 (Kanbun 8), a machidai room (Kasuga room) was established in the Nishimachibugyosho, and they served one by one in shifts during the day. Later, a hierarchy of Kamimachidai and Shitadai (Shimomachidai) also emerged, with Kamimachidai having one or two Shidadai and three Koban (servants) to handle affairs for the machigumi under his/her jurisdiction, receiving a fixed amount of salary from the machigumi, and the position was sometimes traded as stock, but in most cases it was hereditary. During the Kan'ei period (1624-1644), there were nine town governors in Kamigyo and three in Shimogyo, but during the Genroku period (1688-1704), there were seven in Kamigyo and six in Shimogyo, with one serving in both areas, bringing the total to 12 by the end of the Edo period.

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Kamimachidai" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…〈冷泉町大福帳〉天正10年(1582)の項に5人の町代の名が見えるのが初見とされ，初期は所司代の町政執行の補助機関であったと思われるが，1668年(寛文8)京都町奉行所成立後は，西町奉行所に町代部屋(春日部屋)が設けられ，昼間1人ずつ交代で出仕した。また，後には上（かみ）町代･下（した）代(下町代)の序列も生じ，上町代は1～2人の下代と，3人の小番(使用人)を擁して担当町組に対する事務処理に当たり，町組からは一定額の役料(給料)が与えられ，職分はときには株として売買されることもあったが，多くは世襲であった。寛永期(1624‐44)には上京に9人，下京に3人の町代が見えるが，元禄期(1688‐1704)には上京7人，下京6人，うち1人は上下京兼任で，12人となり幕末に至る。…

※「上町代」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報