Ikeshi

Japanese: 池司 - いけし

In the Middle Ages and early modern times, officials were in charge of managing and operating irrigation ponds. Those who managed and operated water in a similar way to the Ikeji were also called Ikemori, Ikebugyō, Ikeji, Ikebugyō, Imori, etc. However, it seems that there were cases where Ikeji, Ikebugyō, and Ikemori each had different duties. For example, in 1545 (Tenbun 14), the Ikebugyō Chogei Eisuke Ikebugyō Chosenbo managed the Shikada Pond on the land of Horyu-ji Temple, and there were two Ikebugyō and one Ikemori under him. Proper management and fair distribution of irrigation water requires that the person in question has thorough knowledge of the water and is fair and selfless. According to a document dated 1359 (Shohei 14, Enbun 4) regarding the new pond at Saidaiji Temple in Yamato Province, the management of the new pond was entrusted to the temple's magistrate, who would select a local ``talented person'' and appoint him as the water division magistrate to distribute the water.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中世･近世において灌漑用の池水の管理･運営をつかさどった役人。池司と同じような用水の管理･運営にあたったものを池守，池奉行，井司，井奉行，井守等ともよんでいる。しかし池司，池奉行，池守がそれぞれ異なった職掌を分担している場合もあったようである。例えば1545年(天文14)法隆寺領鹿田池の管理にあたったのは〈池奉行長芸英資池守長泉坊〉であり，2人の池奉行とその下に属する池守1人がいたようである。用水の適切な管理，公平な配分には，その用水に熟知していること，公平無私な人物であること等がもとめられるが，1359年(正平14∥延文4)大和国西大寺の新池をめぐる置文（おきぶみ）によると，新池の管理は同寺の寺僧奉行に一任され，寺僧奉行は在地の〈器用仁〉を選んで分水奉行に任じて，用水の配分を行わせている。

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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