The benevolent government

Japanese: 仁政方 - じんせいがた

One of the judicial institutions of the Muromachi Shogunate. It is believed to have been active as early as 1341 (Kokoku 2 | Ryakuo 4), and was probably established relatively early after the establishment of the Muromachi Shogunate. It appears that, like the Zen and Ritsukata, it held deliberations (internal discussions) between the head and several magistrates. It is not entirely clear what role it played within the Shogunate's judicial system, but it is thought to be an institution that provided relief for errors in the handling of lawsuits by the Hikitsukekata. One example of such an institution for redressing errors was the Niwanakakata, but while the Niwanakakata's main powers were to urge the Hitsukikata to conduct its hearings and to direct the litigation, (1) a petition from Toji in 1375 (Tenju 1, Eiwa 1) states that because the Hitsukikata case was not going anywhere, the magistrate in charge should be sent to the Jinseikata to conduct the hearing, and (2) a 1377 Shogunate ruling states that the Jinseikata held the hearing because the Otsuso institution had not yet been established. Based on these facts, it is assumed that the institution also independently prepared drafts of arbitration decisions.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

室町幕府の裁判機関の一つ。1341年(興国2∥暦応4)にはすでにその活動が推測され，室町幕府成立以後比較的早い時期に設置されたものと思われる。禅律方などと同様に頭人および数人の奉行人による合議(内談)が行われたらしい。幕府裁判機構の中で果たした役割は必ずしも明らかではないが，引付方における訴訟処理の過誤を救済する機関と考えられる。こうした過誤救済機関としては例えば庭中方があるが，庭中方が主として引付方審理の督促，訴訟指揮を権能としたのに対して，(1)1375年(天授1∥永和1)の東寺申状には，引付沙汰では埒（らち）が明かないから担当奉行人を仁政方に派遣して審理してほしい，とあること，(2)1377年の幕府裁許状には，越訴（おつそ）機関未設置のため仁政方で審理した，とあること，などにより機関独自に裁決原案の作成まで行ったものと推測される。

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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