Salt Monopoly System

Japanese: 塩専売制度 - しおせんばいせいど

The feudal domain monopoly on salt began as a system in which the domain regulated or monopolized salt in order to ensure smooth distribution and the stability of the lives of the domain's citizens, but was later implemented due to economic reasons such as the confusion of the distribution system, the concentration of profits in urban privileged wholesalers, the financial difficulties of the domain, and the implementation of the feudal domain's bill-selling system. This system can be divided into three types: (1) salt-producing domains that monopolized salt within their domains, (2) salt-producing domains that monopolized all or part of the export of salt to other domains, and (3) salt-importing domains that monopolized the purchase of salt. The specific methods used in this system, such as (1) the Kanazawa domain, controlled production through the rental of salt kettles and the salt-de-me system, strictly prohibited the import of salt from other domains, and organized distribution routes with the domain's samurai and village officials.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

塩の藩専売制は配給を円滑にし領民生活の安定をはかるため，藩が規制ないし独占することから出発し，後には流通機構の混乱，都市特権問屋への利益集中，藩財政の窮乏化，藩札仕法の実施などの経済的事情から施行された。　それは(1)塩生産藩で領内専売を行う型，(2)塩生産藩で他領への移出を全部または一部独占する型，(3)塩移入藩で購入塩を専売する型に分けられる。その具体的な仕法は，(1)型の金沢藩では貸釜と塩手米制度によって生産を掌握し，他領塩の移入を厳禁し，配給ルートを藩士と村役人で組織した。

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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