Koden

It is also read as "Kuuden". One of the land categories in the land system of the Ritsuryo system. Fields provided to those who made contributions to the state. There were four grades: Daikou, Jokou, Chukou, and Gokou, and the ownership period of Gokou was limited to the son's generation, Chukou to the grandchild's generation, and Jokou to the great-grandchild's generation. Only Daikou was allowed to be inherited. The method of inheritance was equal for all, regardless of whether they were the legitimate son or illegitimate son (all males other than the legitimate son), or whether they were male or female. However, the inheritance of Kokuden by women was limited to one generation only. The only examples of Daikoden were Fujiwara no Fuhito and Taira no Kiyomori. Kokuden, like Iden, were imported land for rent, and it is believed that they were cultivated through rental management, where the land was rented out and a fee was received. Furthermore, among the private fields stipulated in the Ritsuryo code, these Kokuden had the strongest private ownership rights.

[Koichi Murayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「くうでん」とも読む。律令制(りつりょうせい)土地制度の地目の一つ。国家に対し功労のあった者に支給される田。大功、上功、中功、下功の4等級に分かれ、その所有期間は、下功は子の代まで、中功は孫の代まで、上功は曽孫(そうそん)の代までであり、大功のみ世襲が認められた。その相続方法は、嫡子、庶子（嫡子以外の男子すべて）および男女を論ぜず、皆均分とされた。ただし、女子によって相続された功田は一代限りであった。なお、大功田は藤原不比等(ふひと)、平清盛(きよもり)のほか例はない。功田は位田と同様に輸租田であり、その耕営は、土地を貸して代価を得る賃租経営によったと思われる。また、この功田は、律令に規定された私田のうちではもっとも私有権の強い田であった。

［村山光一］

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