Small person - Small item

Japanese: 小者 - こもの

〘noun〙① A young person. A junior. Also, a person of low rank. ※Taiheiki (late 14th century) 9 "It would be inappropriate to team up with a small-time person like me and fight." ② Refers to a servant of low rank. An apprentice. A boy. A servant. ※Haikai and Hikai Renga (Tobai Senku ) (1540) No. 2 "The autumn wind blows with the wind, Who will turn the eyes of a small-time person like me in the moonlight?" ※One Hundred Tales of Evil (1875)〈Takabatake Ransen〉 1 "The chief servant is a small -time person who does odd jobs and who rides ahead of his master's horse on the battlefield." ③ A low-ranking servant who served a samurai family in the Middle Ages and early modern times, performing odd jobs and galloping ahead of his master's horse on the battlefield. In the Muromachi period, they were of lower status than chugen , and when the shogun went out, several of them accompanied him, and served as sandal bearers . In the Edo period, servants were also called komono, and servants employed by the shogunate were mainly used for running errands and carrying luggage. → Komono. ※Azuma Kagami - May 6, 1213, Kenpo 1 "Diary of people _killed in the battle on May 2 and 3, 3rd year of Kenryaku (omitted) Other than this, _{there are no} small servants" ④ In the Edo period, they were employed by samurai and used for odd jobs. They were often called wakato, chugen, zori tori, etc., and were usually employed on a yearly contract, and had almost no obligation of loyalty to their master. ※Kinryo Ko - Zenshu, Vol. 4, Volume 36, November 5, 1631 (Kan'ei 8) "If there are any who have become samurai as minors, their master must immediately change their status and report them to the police." ⑤ In the Edo period, a low-ranking official who worked as a patrolman for the magistrate, investigating crimes and arresting criminals. Their duties were not different from those of a meakashi (=okahiki), but they were given a small salary by the police and were public servants. ※Makimin Kinkan - Vol. 1, April, 1850 (Kaei 3) "The rules for lending a jitte (head guard) to minors who are accompanied by hired foot soldiers and assistants" ⑥ An insignificant underling with no skill or status. ⑦ ⇒Komono (small person)

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 年若い人。年少者。また、こがらな人。※太平記（１４Ｃ後）九「己れ程の小者(コモノ)と組で勝負はすまじきぞとて」② 身分の低い奉公人をいう。丁稚(でっち)。小僧。下男。※俳諧・誹諧之連歌（飛梅千句）（1540）何第二「とくりをもたせ秋かぜぞふく月かげは誰小ものめををくるらん」※怪化百物語（1875）〈高畠藍泉〉上「主管(ばんとう)小厮(コモノ)が四表八表(よもやま)の」③ 中世、近世に、武家に仕えて雑役に従事し、戦場では主人の馬先を駆走した軽輩のもの。室町時代には中間(ちゅうげん)より身分が低く、将軍出行のときは数名が随従し、草履(ぞうり)持ちなどをつとめた。江戸時代の小者は小人ともいい、幕府お抱えの小者はおもに使い走りや荷物の運搬にあたった。→小人。※吾妻鏡‐建保元年（1213）五月六日「建暦三年五月二日三日合戦被_レ討人々日記〈略〉此外小物郎等は不_レ注」④ 江戸時代、武士に雇われ、雑事に使役されたもの。若党(わかとう)、中間、草履取りなどと併称されることが多く、普通一年ごとの契約で雇い入れられ、主人に対し忠誠義務はほとんどなかった。※禁令考‐前集・第四・巻三六・寛永八年（1631）一一月五日「小者身分として侍に成候者於有之は、本文主人え相断改之、急度曲事可申付事」⑤ 江戸時代、町奉行の廻り同心の手先となり、犯罪の捜査、犯人の逮捕に従った下級役人。その職務は目明(めあかし)（=岡引）と異ならなかったが、同心から若干の給金を与えられ、公的な使用人であった。※牧民金鑑‐一・嘉永三年（1850）四月「雇足軽並手附手代共召連れ候小ものへ、十手捕縄貸渡候心得方之儀」⑥ 手腕や地位のない、したっぱの取るに足りない者。⑦ ⇒こもの（小物）

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