Merchant Guild - shounin guild (English spelling) guild merchant

Japanese: 商人ギルド - しょうにんギルド（英語表記）guild merchant

A merchant's guild in medieval European cities. It was mainly composed of merchants who traded over long distances, but also included artisans, and was a general association that protected the interests of all businessmen, ensuring the safety of commercial transactions and maintaining business monopolies. It was formed in the 11th and 12th centuries, and played a central role in the movement to obtain urban autonomy, especially in areas north of the Alps. After the formation of medieval cities, influential members of merchant guilds formed the ruling class of the city, and in England in particular, there was a gradual trend toward the integration of cities and merchant guilds, with merchant guild officials becoming city officials.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヨーロッパ中世都市の商人の組合。遠隔地商業を営む商人を中心とするが，手工業者をも含み，すべての営業者の利害を守る総合的組合として，商業取引の安全をはかり，また営業の独占等を維持した。11,12世紀に形成が進み，とくにアルプス以北の地域では，都市の自治権獲得のための運動に中心的な役割を果たした。中世都市形成後は，商人ギルドの有力者が都市の支配層を形成し，とくにイギリスではしだいに都市と商人ギルドの一体化傾向が進んで，商人ギルドの役人が都市役人となるといった事態がみられた。

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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