Chinese House - Toujin Yashiki

This facility was used by the Edo Shogunate to detain Chinese people who had come to Japan to prevent smuggling and suppress the spread of Christianity. It is also called Tokan. It was opened in 1689 (Genroku 2) at public expense in Juzenji Village Oyakuen (Kannai-cho, Nagasaki City), government-owned land on the outskirts of Nagasaki. That year, it detained 4,888 people. Around 1694, the site area was over 8,015 tsubo (approximately 26,450 square meters). Rent (initially 160 kan of silver per year, later 2 kan 119 so for every 100 kan of silver in trade) and land rent (over 3 kan of silver per year) were borne by the Chinese people. At the time of completion, the Chinese people lived in 19 two-story tenement buildings. The upper and lower floors were divided into 50 rooms, with the upper 20 rooms for the boatman (representative of the visiting merchants) and visiting merchants, and the lower floor for the crew. However, each room was used by a different port, so people from different ports did not stay together . Meals were provided by each person, with different rice balls prepared for each port. The Tojin Yashiki Otona (three people) were responsible for policing the building. Other officials included the group leader, Tojinban, Saguriban, Tsujiban, and Tsuetsuki. The number varied depending on the era, but was around 100 people. According to records from 1701 (Genroku 14), there were also 15 doctors (10 in internal medicine, 3 in surgery, 2 in ophthalmology) and 8 prison doctors. The only ordinary Japanese people allowed in were designated merchants, prostitutes, and kamuro. In 1738 (Genbun 3), the total number of prostitutes allowed in was 16,913.

[Yamawaki Teijiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府が密貿易の防止、キリスト教の伝播(でんぱ)抑圧の目的で、来航唐人（中国人）を収容した施設。唐館ともいう。長崎郊外の官有地、十善寺村御薬園（長崎市館内(かんない)町）に1689年（元禄2）公費で開設した。同年の収容者数、4888名。1694年ごろの敷地面積8015坪余（約2万6450平方メートル）。家賃（初め年額、銀160貫、のち商売銀高100貫につき2貫119匆）、借地料（年額、銀3貫余）は唐人側の負担。竣工(しゅんこう)当時、唐人居住の建物は二階造りの長屋19棟。階上階下を50の部屋に割り、階上の20部屋を船頭（来航商人の代表者）、客商らの部屋、階下を乗組員の部屋とした。ただし各部屋は起帆地別の使用とし、起帆地を異にする者たちがこみで泊まることはなかった。食事は自分賄いで、起帆地別にそれぞれの飯団(はんだん)をつくった。唐人屋敷乙名(おとな)（3名）が館内取締りの責任者。ほかに組頭、唐人番、探番(さぐりばん)、辻番(つじばん)、杖突(つえつき)らの役人が置かれた。その数は時代により差があるが、100名内外。1701年（元禄14）の記録によれば、医師15名（内科10、外科3、眼科2）、牢屋(ろうや)医師8名も置かれている。一般日本人で出入りできた者は、指定商人のほかは遊女、禿(かむろ)のみ。1738年（元文3）の呼入れ遊女数は延べ1万6913名。

［山脇悌二郎］

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