Secret of economic management - Keisei Hisaku

This is one of the major works of Honda Toshiaki, a businessman of the late Edo period. It was written during the Kansei era (1789-1801). Issues such as the devastation of cities and rural areas, and the arrival of Russian envoys in Ezochi (Hokkaido) drew the attention of intellectuals, but Toshiaki, an advocate of practical learning, proactively expressed his own views. This work consists of two volumes, an addendum, and a sequel. It discusses the manufacture of glass from gold, silver, copper, salt, and other materials, the opening of rivers, and other topics from the perspectives of national wealth, distribution, and trade. It also advocates reforms to promote the institutionalization of Ezochi development, urban life, and maintaining public order, using fires, rice prices, and theft as examples. It is a book of warning to those in power.

[Tetsuo Suenaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の経世家本多利明(としあき)の主著の一つ。寛政(かんせい)年間（1789～1801）の著作。都市・農村の荒廃、ロシア使節の蝦夷地(えぞち)（北海道）来航など、識者の関心を高めたが、実学開明論者の利明は積極的に自説を表明した。本書は上・下巻、補遺、後篇(こうへん)からなる。金銀銅、焔硝(えんしょう)、塩などから玻璃(はり)の製作、河川の開通等に関して国富、流通、貿易の面から論じ、また蝦夷地開発の制度化による推進、都市の生活、治安の維持を、火災、米価、夜盗を例に改革を説いた。為政者に対する警世の書である。

［末中哲夫］

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