Iron seat

A monopoly on iron and pig iron during the Edo period. Until the establishment of the iron market, iron and other metals were freely traded, but under the rule of senior councilor Tanuma Okitsugu, the shogunate established the iron market in Osaka along with the brass market as a ginza kayaku in August 1780 (An'ei 9), and all iron and pig iron sent to Osaka wholesalers from various provinces were bought and sold through the iron market. This reform of the distribution system posed a great threat to Osaka wholesalers and craftsmen, so the shogunate tried to alleviate the discontent by changing the way things were done, but in the end, during the Kansei Reforms led by senior councilor Matsudaira Sadanobu in September 1787 (Tenmei 7), the iron market and brass market were abolished. This is thought to have been a measure aimed at making it easier to secure the bullion, as iron and brass coins were actively minted from around this time to make up for the shortage of copper coins.

[Yotaro Sakudo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の鉄、銑(せん)の専売機関。鉄座を設立するまで鉄などの取引は自由であったが、幕府は老中田沼意次(おきつぐ)のとき、1780年（安永9）8月、銀座加役として真鍮(しんちゅう)座とともに鉄座を大坂に設け、諸国から大坂問屋に回送された鉄、銑はすべて鉄座を通して売買が行われた。このような流通機構の改革は、大坂問屋や職人たちに大きな脅威を与えたので、幕府はその仕法を改めて不平を緩和しようと努めたが、結局は1787年（天明7）9月、老中松平定信(さだのぶ)による寛政(かんせい)の改革の際、鉄座および真鍮座は廃止となった。これは、銅銭の不足を補うために、鉄銭・真鍮銭がこのころから盛んに鋳造されたので、その地金(じがね)の確保を容易にすることを目的とした施策であったとみられている。

［作道洋太郎］

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