Tomura

In the Edo period, this was the head of the ten village groups of the Kaga domain, and was an abbreviation of the ten village chief (kimoiri) and ten village head (gashira). They were like the headman of other domains, and functioned as the lowest level governing body for the domain, such as collecting taxes. Unlike the kimoiri who governed a single village, they were in charge of governing groups consisting of several dozen villages, and were selected from among the peasants for their wealth, family status, and skills. Although they were peasant status, high-ranking kimoiri were given stipends, and at the end of the Edo period, they were allowed to have surnames (myouji). It was founded in 1604 (Keicho 9), but was institutionalized when the Kaisakuho (a reform of the domain government centered on agricultural administration) was implemented. The hierarchy was roughly divided into three types: Mu-gumi goshi-nin, Kumi-mochi goshi-nin, and Hira-jumura, and their duties were determined accordingly, but for each of the three types, retired officers were called nami, and their children who were expected to succeed them were called retsu, so if active officers were included, there were nine hierarchy. In 1819 (Bunsei 2), the Great Political Scandal occurred and the system was temporarily abolished, but it was revived in 1839 (Tenpo 10) and continued until the Meiji Restoration.

[Yoshitake Yoshiichiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代、加賀藩の十村組の長のことで、十村肝煎(きもいり)、十村頭(がしら)の略称。他藩の大庄屋(おおじょうや)にあたり、当藩の徴税など支配の末端機関として機能した。一村支配の肝煎に対し、数十村をあわせた組の支配を担当し、農民のなかで、持高(もちだか)・家格・技量の優れた者が選ばれた。百姓身分ながらその高級者には扶持(ふち)が与えられ、幕末には苗字(みょうじ)も許された。1604年（慶長9）に創始されているが、改作法（農政中心の藩政改革）の実施の際に制度的に確立した。その階層は、無組御扶持人、組持御扶持人、平(ひら)十村の3種に大別され、その役柄もそれに応じて決まっていたが、それぞれ3種についてその退役者を並(なみ)、その子弟で後継予定者を列(れつ)と称したので、現役をあわせると九つの階層になる。1819年（文政2）に大疑獄事件が起こり一時廃止されたが、39年（天保10）に復活し、明治維新まで存続した。

［吉武佳一郎］

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