Car Zenshichi

Japanese: 車善七 - くるま・ぜんしち

A head of non-human samurai in the late Edo period. Hereditary name. The August 12th year of Kansei (1800) edition of the Danzaemon Shojo lists five non-human samurai: Asakusa Zenshichi, Shinagawa Matsuemon, Fukagawa Zenzaburo, Yoyogi Kyubei, and Kinoshitagawa Kyubei. However, the February 13th year of Tenpo (1842) edition of the same book does not list Kinoshitagawa Kyubei. The "Tokugawa System" section of the Meiji period Asano Shinbun lists nine people: head Asakusa Kuruma Zenshichi, controlling head Shinagawa Matsuemon, Nakahashi Jirobei, Yokkaichi Shinshiro, Tani no Mono Choubei, Senju Ichibei, Fukagawa Zenzaburo, Asajigahara Sozaemon, and Yoyogi Kyubei. Kuruma Zenshichi's jurisdiction extended from Shinbashi to Senju Ohashi Bridge, and south to Rokugo River was Matsuemon, Honjo and Fukagawa were Zenzaburo, and Yamate was Kyubei. Zenshichi was in charge of official duties at the Kozukahara execution grounds, while Matsuemon was in charge of official duties at the Suzugamori execution grounds. Zenshichi had the greatest authority. The head of the hinin were under the control of the eta head Dan. Zenshichi appealed to the magistrate over this separation from control, but was defeated in a ruling in 1722 (Kyoho 7), and Dan's control over Zenshichi was confirmed. Zenshichi's residence was in an area adjacent to the southwest of Asakusa and Shin Yoshiwara, as shown in Edo Kiriezu. Official duties in charge of the hinin included police, prison, firefighting and cleaning. He took care of seriously ill prisoners at "Tame" in Asakusa, and controlled Yamamoto Jintayu, the head of the entertainment lowlife beggars. Zenshichi's ancestors were 1) Uesugi Kagekatsu, vassal, Kuruma Tanba, and 2) Satake Hitachinobu Yoshinobu, vassal, Kuruma Tanba no Kami. According to the history book, Tanba's son Zenshichi failed to kill his father's enemy, Tokugawa Ieyasu, but was captured and reduced to the status of a hinin (beggar). In August 1871 (Meiji 4), he was registered as a commoner by a proclamation from the Dajokan. The location of the Kuruma family grave is unknown.

(Arai Mitsujiro)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

江戸後期の非人頭。世襲名。寛政12(1800)年8月の『弾左衛門書上』には非人頭・浅草善七,品川松右衛門,深川善三郎,代々木久兵衛,木下川久兵衛の5人があげられている。しかし,天保13(1842)年2月の同書上には木下川久兵衛はない。明治時代の『朝野新聞』の「徳川制度」では,頭領・浅草車善七,支配頭・品川松右衛門,中橋次郎兵衛,四日市新四郎,谷の者長兵衛,千住市兵衛,深川善三郎,浅茅ケ原惣左衛門,代々木久兵衛の9人と記している。車善七の管轄地は新橋を境に千住大橋まで,南は六郷川まで松右衛門,本所・深川は善三郎,山手は久兵衛。善七は小塚原,松右衛門は鈴ケ森の刑場の公務を担当した。権限は善七が最大であった。非人頭は穢多頭・弾の支配を受ける。この支配離脱をめぐり善七が町奉行に提訴したが,享保7(1722)年の判決で敗れ,弾の善七支配が確定した。善七の居所は,江戸切絵図に浅草・新吉原西南の隣接地。非人担当公務は警察・刑務・消防・清掃など。浅草の「溜」に重病囚人を預かり,芸能賤民乞胸頭・山本仁太夫を支配した。善七の先祖は①上杉景勝・臣・車丹波②佐竹常陸介義宣・臣・車丹波守。丹波の息・善七は父の仇・徳川家康を討ちもらし,捕らえられ,非人(乞食)の身分に下がると由緒書にある。明治4(1871)年8月,太政官布告により平民籍に編入。車家の墓所は不明。

(荒井貢次郎)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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