Borrowing - Shakutai

An interest-free rice lending system during the Nara and Heian periods. It was a type of suiko, but whereas suiko is generally a favorable loan, this was an interest-free loan. It was also called shintai. Initially, the system was established to provide relief to farmers in poverty, and was implemented in years of poor harvests. In 734 (Tenpyo 6), in order to give preferential treatment to kokushi, a system was established in which kokushi were allowed to borrow and lend a certain amount of official rice, which varied depending on the rank of the province, and they would then lend it to farmers as suiko, which was a favorable loan, and the profit from the rice was earned. However, there were many drawbacks to this practice and it was soon banned. However, in 798 (Enryaku 17), the system of lending and borrowing was reinstated when the public rice fields of kokushi were abolished, and in 806 (Daido 1), a system was created whereby newly appointed kokushi were required to borrow a quarter of the public rice fields to use as food. Later, lending and borrowing was also permitted for local officials such as the Chinjufu and Jusenshi offices and Shosho (staff of various provinces), as a way to reward the hard work of busy government officials.

[Yusuke Yoneda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良・平安時代の無利息米稲貸与制度。出挙(すいこ)の一種であるが、一般に出挙は有利貸付であるのに対し、無利息による貸与をいう。賑貸(しんたい)ともいう。当初、困窮する農民の救済のために設けた制度で、凶作年などに行われた。734年（天平6）国司を優遇するため、国の等級によって相違するが、国司に一定額の官稲の借貸を許し、彼らはそれを有利貸付である出挙として農民に貸し付け、利稲を得分とする制度が成立した。しかし弊害も多く、まもなく禁止されたが、798年（延暦17）国司に対する公廨田(くがいでん)の廃止により借貸の制が復活し、806年（大同1）新赴任の国司に公廨稲の4分の1を借貸して食料にあてさせる制が生まれ、のち鎮守府(ちんじゅふ)、鋳銭司(じゅせんし)の官人や諸国書生(しょしょう)などの地方官にも借貸を許し、事務多忙の官の労苦に報いた。

［米田雄介］

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