Kirigane (modern history) - Kirigane

...The shogunate strongly encouraged settlement (naisai) in this type of lawsuit, believing that it should be resolved mutually according to the will of the parties involved. In terms of legal procedures, there were restrictions on the minimum amount of the lawsuit, the establishment of naisai by the plaintiff's application alone (katasumikuchi), and particularly notable features such as long-term installment repayment of debts (kirigane). In addition, when there were numerous lawsuits, aitaisumasirei (laws for mutual settlement) were issued, and in terms of credit protection, kinkoji was treated less favorably than hon-koji. However, in 1843 (Tenpo 14) during the Tenpo Reforms led by the senior councilor Mizuno Tadakuni, the kinkoji legal system was revised, and in cases where the debtor was a peasant or townsman, kirigane was not applied and forced execution against the total assets (shindaiikagiri) was carried out promptly. Credit protection was strengthened by the introduction of the advanced law of the Osaka Town Magistrate's Office, and the difference between hon-koji and kinkoji was substantially reduced until the Meiji era.

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "Kirikane (Modern History)" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…本来この種の訴訟は当事者の実意により相対で解決すべきものであるとして，幕府は和解(内済（ないさい）)を強く指導した。訴訟手続上は出訴最低額の制限，原告だけの申立てによる内済の成立(片済口（かたすみくち）)などのほか，とくに債務の長期分割弁済(切金（きりがね）)に顕著な特徴があり，また訴訟がおびただしくなると相対済令（あいたいすましれい）が出されるなど，債権保護の点で本公事よりも冷遇されていた。しかし1843年(天保14)老中水野忠邦による天保改革に際して金公事法制は改正され，債務者が百姓町人の場合については切金を適用せず総財産に対する強制執行(身代限（しんだいかぎり）)を速やかに行うようにするなど，先進的な大坂町奉行所の法の導入によって債権保護が強化され，以後本公事との差異は実質的に少となって明治に及んだ。…

※「切金（近世史）」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