Sakai merchant

Japanese: 堺商人 - さかいしょうにん

They were merchants who held sway mainly in Sakai during the Middle Ages, and their names first became known in the second half of the 15th century when they became involved in trade between Japan and Ming China. Huge amounts of commercial capital accumulated in Sakai as a result of the development of the domestic market in conjunction with trade between Japan and Ming China. Representative wealthy merchants include Yukawa Nobuaki, Yukawa Shinbei, Kojima Saburozaemon, Ikenaga Shinbei, Hinataya Shuri, and Owa Sorin. Sakai merchants were also the benefactors of the Hasedera Toro Corridor in Yamato, which was completed in 1866 (Bunsho 1), and those who provided funds for the memorial service held for the East Pagoda of Koyasan in 1872 (Bunmei 4).

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

おもに中世に堺で勢力をもっていた商人で，その名が知られるようになったのは，日明貿易にたずさわった15世紀後半からである。日明貿易とともに国内市場の発展によって，堺には巨額の商業資本が蓄積された。湯川宣阿，同新兵衛，小島三郎左衛門，池永新兵衛，日向屋修理，尾和宗臨などは代表的な豪商である。また1440年(永享12)高野山の金堂の修理に当たった草部屋道普，44年(文安1)同じく高野山大湯屋の釜をつくるのに3貫文を寄進した問丸の三郎五郎らをはじめとして，66年(文正1)完成した大和長谷寺登廊の施主となったり，高野山東塔の72年(文明4)に行われた供養の費用を寄進したのも堺商人であった。

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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