Inspector - Junkenshi

One of the Edo Shogunate's inspection systems. There were two types: "Shokoku Junkenshi" (inspectors of various provinces) and "Goryo Junkenshi" (inspectors of the Imperial Estate). The more commonly known are the "Shokoku Junkenshi" (inspectors of various provinces), who were dispatched to the territories of various daimyo. They began in 1633 (Kan'ei 10) under the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, passed through 67 (Kanbun 7) under the fourth Shogun, Ietsuna, and from 81 (Tenwa 1) under the fifth Shogun, Tsunayoshi, they began to be dispatched in the year when the Shogun was replaced or the year after. After this, except for the reign of the 7th shogun Ietsugu, who was young and short-lived, the 6th shogun Ienobu in 1710 (Hoei 7), the 8th shogun Yoshimune in 16 (Kyoho 1), the 9th shogun Ieshige in 1746 (Enkyo 3), the 10th shogun Ieharu in 1750 (Horeki 10), the 11th shogun Ienari in 1888 (Tenmei 8), and the 12th shogun Ieyoshi in 1838 (Tenpo 9). During the reigns of the 13th shogun Iesada and the 14th shogun Iemochi, there were no dispatches due to postponements or cancellations, and they were discontinued in the 15th shogun Yoshinobu in 1867 (Keio 3). In total, there were nine dispatches around that time. The whole country was divided into eight regions (each region consisted of several or more than ten countries), and three people were selected from among the Tsukaiban (messenger), Shoinban (bookkeeper), and Koshogumi (page group) to each region and dispatched as a group (always including the Tsukaiban). In 1667, the group also included inspections of the "ura-ra" (ports) (the land route from Edo to Osaka, and the coasts of the provinces along the Saikaido and Sanyo roads) (in this case, they were mainly dispatched from the Funate). The "Goryo Junkenshi" targeted territories directly controlled by the shogunate that were scattered throughout the country, and were dispatched as needed until around the mid-Edo period. They were selected from the Kanjo (accountants), Shiho Kanjo (control accountants), and Kachimetsuke (attendants), and were dispatched 21 times in total. The "Shokoku Junkenshi" were intended to investigate and supervise the governance of daimyo territories, and the "Goryo Junkenshi" were intended to investigate and supervise the governance of territories directly controlled by the shogunate, but both were later made into ceremonial missions. Among the daimyo, some were eventually stripped of their titles after their bad governance was exposed by the reports of the inspectors.

[Kitahara Akio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府の監察制度の一つ。「諸国巡見使」と「御料(ごりょう)巡見使」の2種類があった。一般によく知られているのは、諸大名の領地を対象に派遣された「諸国巡見使」のほうである。3代将軍徳川家光(いえみつ)の1633年（寛永10）に始まり、4代家綱(いえつな)の67年（寛文7）を経て、5代綱吉(つなよし)の81年（天和1）のときから将軍の代替りの年かその翌年に派遣されるようになった。こののち、幼少短命に終わった7代家継(いえつぐ)の治世を除き、6代家宣(いえのぶ)の1710年（宝永7）、8代吉宗(よしむね)の16年（享保1）、9代家重(いえしげ)の46年（延享3）、10代家治(いえはる)の60年（宝暦10）、11代家斉(いえなり)の88年（天明8）、12代家慶(いえよし)の1838年（天保9）と続いた。13代家定(いえさだ)、14代家茂(いえもち)の治世は延期や中止などで派遣はなく、15代慶喜(よしのぶ)の67年（慶応3）に至って停止された。つごう前後9回の派遣であった。全国を八つの区域に分かち（一区域は数か国ないし十数か国からなる）、各地域には、使番(つかいばん)、書院番、小姓組(こしょうぐみ)のなかから人を選び、3人を一組（かならず使番を含む）として派遣した。1667年の派遣時は、なかに「浦々」の巡見（江戸より大坂に至る浦々の陸路、西海道および山陽道の国々の海辺）も含まれていた（この場合は、おもに船手(ふなて)から派遣）。「御料巡見使」のほうは、全国に散在する幕府の直轄地を対象とし、江戸中期ごろまでは随時派遣された。勘定(かんじょう)、支配勘定、徒目付(かちめつけ)のなかから人を選び、前後21回の派遣であったという。「諸国巡見使」は大名領地、「御料巡見使」は幕府直轄地の治政の良否を調査し、監督するのを目的としたが、いずれものちには儀礼化した。大名のなかには、巡見使の報告によって悪政が露顕し、ついに改易に処せられるものもあった。

［北原章男］

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