Soujaban

A job title in the Edo Shogunate. Established during the Keicho era (1596-1615). Number of staff: 20-30 (Shodaibu, Fuyou-no-ma). Appointed from among fudai daimyo with stipends of 10,000 koku or more. When daimyo and hatamoto had audiences with the shogun at the beginning of the year, the five seasonal festivals, the first moon festival, etc., they presented their names and gifts and conveyed gifts bestowed by the shogun. They also served as envoys to the Gosanke and various daimyo families. They were assigned to positions such as on-duty, assistant, and off-duty, and took turns serving as such. It was said that only a person with linguistic intelligence and wisdom could hold this position, and from 1658 (Manji 1), the position of temple and shrine magistrate (capacity of four people) was filled by one of these people. Starting from this position, fudai daimyo went on to important positions such as temple and shrine magistrate, young councilor, Osaka castle governor, Kyoto shoshidai, or senior councilor. It was abolished in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). The duties were divided into tsumeshu, tsumeshu nami, temple and shrine magistrate, oometsuke, metsuke, gift officer, and kouke. The position was re-established the following year.

[Kitahara Akio]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府の職名。慶長(けいちょう)年間（1596～1615）の創置。員数20～30人（諸大夫(しょだいぶ)、芙蓉間(ふようのま)詰）。万石以上の譜代(ふだい)大名のなかから補任(ぶにん)された。大名、旗本などが年始、五節供、朔望(さくぼう)などに将軍に拝謁するとき、その姓名や進物(しんもつ)を披露(ひろう)し、将軍の下賜品を伝達した。また御三家(ごさんけ)および諸大名家へ上使を勤めることがあった。当番、助(すけ)番、非番などがあり、交替で勤めた。言語怜悧(れいり)、英邁(えいまい)の人物でなくては勤まらぬ役職といわれ、1658年（万治1）以降寺社奉行(ぶぎょう)（定員4人）はこのうちから兼帯することを例とした。譜代大名はここを振り出しに、寺社奉行を経て若年寄や大坂城代、京都所司代(しょしだい)あるいは老中などの重職へと上った。1862年（文久2）廃止。職掌は詰衆、詰衆並(なみ)、寺社奉行、大目付、目付、進物番、高家(こうけ)などに分属した。翌年再置。

［北原章男］

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