Encouragement of Agriculture - Kannou Wakumon

Japanese: 勧農或問 - かんのうわくもん

This is a two-volume book on agricultural reforms written by Fujita Yukoku, a scholar of the Mito domain, in 1799 (Kansei 11). It is written entirely in a question-and-answer style. It explains the reality of the domain's decline in power due to financial difficulties and the hardships of life for the samurai and commoners, and points out five major problems in agricultural policy: laziness, cross-pollination, heavy labor, excessive use of power, and nuisance. It presents reform measures for each of these, and concludes by arguing that finances should be saved and the people should be governed with benevolence. This book is essential for studying the history of agricultural policy in the Mito domain. Included in the Yukoku Complete Works. [Suzuki Eiichi]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

水戸藩の学者藤田幽谷が1799年(寛政11)に著した農政改革論。上下2巻。全編問答体で記す。藩の財政窮乏と士民の生活難により藩勢が衰退した実情を説き，農政上のおもな弊害として，侈惰，兼併，力役，横斂，煩擾の5弊を指摘し，その一つ一つにつき改革策を述べ，結論として財用を節約し仁愛をもって人民を治めるべきことを論じている。水戸藩の農政史研究に不可欠の書。《幽谷全集》所収。【鈴木暎一】

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

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