Page boy - pepper

Also written as kosho. A warrior who served his lord closely and performed general chores. In the Edo Shogunate, there were pages (also called okukosho) and nakaoku pages (also called omotekosho). Both were established early on. There were 20 to 30 pages. Among them were several page leaders. They always served the shogun closely, performed general chores, and were always tasked with escorting the shogun when he entered or left the ooku. Both Taira pages and leaders were under the control of wakadoshiyori, shodaifu, and those with a stipend of 500 koku or less and a family stipend of 1000 koku received a salary of 300 straw bales. There were 20 to 30 nakaoku pages. They served exclusively in the nakaoku, and when there were ceremonies, they served food and transported people, and were in charge of various other general chores. He was in charge of the Wakadoshiyori, Shodaifu, Mochitaka, and Yamabuki-no-ma.

[Kitahara Akio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小性とも書く。主君に近侍し、身辺の雑用をたす武士。江戸幕府には小姓（奥小姓ともいう）と中奥(なかおく)小姓（表(おもて)小姓ともいう）とがあった。いずれも草創期の設置。小姓の員数は20～30人。なかに小姓頭取が数人あった。常時将軍に近侍し、身辺の雑務に従い、将軍の大奥(おおおく)出入りの際は、かならずその送迎を任務とした。平の小姓、頭取ともに若年寄支配、諸大夫、役高500石、家禄(かろく)1000石以下は役料300俵であった。中奥小姓の員数は20～30人。もっぱら中奥に出仕し、儀式のあるときは配膳(はいぜん)役送に従い、そのほか諸般の雑務をつかさどった。若年寄支配、諸大夫、持高、山吹間(やまぶきのま)詰であった。

［北原章男］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例