Checkpoint pass - Sekisho-tegata

A pass through a checkpoint. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, there were passes for checkpoints and other facilities called Kasho and Kasho, and checkpoint tegata were seen in the Muromachi period, but they became common in the Edo period. In the Edo period, checkpoint tegata were also called checkpoint stamps, tegata, and shōmon, and their purpose was to prevent guns from being brought into Edo and to prevent the wives and children of daimyo hostages from escaping from Edo. Therefore, the main checkpoint tegata were gun tegata and onna tegata, and the latter were issued more often. In Osaka, the town head elder would examine the identity of the woman requesting a checkpoint tegata, obtain a shōmon from the hitonushi and the five elders, and submit this to the town magistrate, who would then obtain a tegata and issue it to the woman. For women leaving Edo, the shogunate's resident guardians would issue them after going through a certain procedure. The document was in the form of an application for permission to pass through to the checkpoint official, with the issuer guaranteeing the identity of the traveler. The checkpoints at Hakone and Arai on the Tokaido were the most stringent. However, ordinary men did not need a checkpoint pass.

[Nobuo Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

関所の通行許可証。古代、中世に過所、過書という関所などの通行許可証があり、室町時代に関所手形がみられるが、一般化したのは江戸時代である。江戸時代の関所手形は関所切手、手形、証文ともいい、その設定の目的は、鉄炮(てっぽう)が江戸に搬入され、また人質である大名の妻子が江戸から逃れるのを警戒し取り締まることにあった。そこで関所手形は鉄炮手形と女手形が主で、後者の発行が多かった。大坂では、町の惣年寄(そうどしより)が関所手形を請う婦人の身元を吟味し、人主(ひとぬし)及び年寄五人組より証文をとり、これを町奉行(ぶぎょう)に差し出し、そこから手形を得て本人に交付することとなっていた。江戸から出発する婦人には、一定の手続を経て幕府留守居(るすい)などが発行していた。書面は、発行者が旅行者の身元を保証して通行許可を関所役人に申請する形式であった。東海道箱根および新居(あらい)の関所がもっとも厳重であった。なお、一般の男子は関所手形を必要としなかった。

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