Arashi - Arashi

Japanese: 荒子 - あらしこ

A type of servant of a samurai family during the Sengoku and Edo periods. Also spelled ara-ko. In 1591 (Tensho 19), Toyotomi Hideyoshi's social status control order states, "Servants, samurai, nakama, servants, and ara-ko have become townspeople and farmers since the Oshu-E campaign last July" (Kobayakawa family documents). They were foot soldiers who performed menial tasks such as construction work, baggage, and cooking on the battlefield, and their status was clearly distinguished from farmers and townspeople. The Edo Shogunate had 22 ara-ko (15 bales of rice, half a stipend each, seated, and not more than an audience with the Emperor) in the Koishikawa Botanical Garden.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

戦国･江戸時代の武家奉公人の一種。嵐子とも書く。1591年(天正19)の豊臣秀吉の身分統制令に〈奉公人，侍，中間，小者，あらし子に至る，去七月奥州江御出勢より以後，新儀ニ町人百姓ニ成候者在之者〉(小早川家文書)とある。戦場で土木，輜重（しちよう），炊事などの雑役に従事した雑兵であり，その身分は百姓･町人とは明確に区別されていた。江戸幕府には小石川の薬園に22人の荒子(15俵一人半扶持高，抱席，御目見以下)がおかれていた。

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

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