Shogun thread

Japanese: 将軍糸 - しょうぐんのいと

In the early Edo period, the Shogun gave priority to white silk thread in trade with Nagasaki. Foreign merchants called it Emperor's silk. Tokugawa Ieyasu was extremely enthusiastic about foreign trade, partly to support the finances of his early administration. When he established the Shogunate in 1603 (Keicho 8), he dispatched his aide Ogasawara Ichian and then Hasegawa Fujihiro to Nagasaki as the governor, and sent his brother Hasegawa Chubei and Chaya Matashiro (the 3rd Shirojiro) to Nagasaki as governors for the sale and purchase of thread rolls and other goods, and had them purchase white silk thread and other military supplies.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

江戸初期，将軍が長崎貿易で優先的に購入させた白糸。外国商人からエンペラーズ･シルクEmperor’s silkと呼ばれた。徳川家康は初期政権の財政上の補てんのこともあって，外国貿易にはきわめて熱心で，1603年(慶長8)に幕府を開くと，長崎代官に側近の小笠原一庵，ついで長谷川藤広を派遣し，その配下に糸巻物以下売買の代官として弟の長谷川忠兵衛，それに茶屋又四郎(3代目四郎次郎)を長崎に下し，白糸やその他の軍需品の購入に当たらせている。

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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