Kaneyama Nonaka

A politician of the Tosa Domain in the early Edo period. His given name was Yoshitsugu. He was also known by the names Den'emon, Kazue, and Hoki, and his pen names were Kaneyama and Meiken. He was born in Himeji, Harima Province (Hyogo Prefecture) in June 1600. His father was Nonaka Yoshiaki, his mother was Akita Man, and his grandmother was Gohime (Jisenin), the younger sister of Yamauchi Kazutoyo. His father Yoshiaki left the country in 1608 (Keicho 13) and died in 1618 while a ronin. Kaneyama returned to Tosa with his mother, and was adopted by Nonaka Naotsugu, a chief retainer of the branch family, and married Naotsugu's daughter Ichi. Naotsugu became a magistrate in 1622 (Genwa 8), but after his death he was appointed magistrate in 1631 (Kan'ei 8) and developed a strong domain government. To promote the development of Nangaku (Southern learning), he welcomed Tani Jichu, introduced Neo-Confucianism from Edo, and studied it with Yamazaki Ansai and Ogura Sansei to master Hainan Neo-Confucianism (Southern learning), incorporating it as a practical learning into politics and striving to put feudal morality into practice. He also translated "Shu-Shi Gorui" and "Shogaku," and wrote works such as "Muroto-Kouki," "Jisyo-Roku," and "Kaneyama Iso." He forbade cremation and made burials, and because of the idea of ​​not marrying someone with the same surname, Ichi was his wife in name only. Kaneyama's greatest achievement was the construction of irrigation channels to develop new fields. He built many wells, including the Yamada Weir on the Monobe River and the Hata and Kamata Weirs on the Niyodo River, to irrigate the plains of Kacho, Gonan, Takaoka, and other areas. To develop the new fields, he appointed the descendants of Ichiryo Gusoku, a surviving retainer of the Chosokabe clan, as local samurai, and had them play a part in easing discontent and strengthening the military. He also demonstrated his talent in promoting industry and improving ports, but he also strengthened his control over the people of his domain by issuing the Motoyama Rules, Hiroseura Rules, and Kuniju Rules. He also engaged in a border dispute between the Uwajima Domain and Okishima (Sukumo City) and Sasayama, but he relied on monopolies on paper, tea, lacquer, and other products to fund the disputes and development. This, combined with the excessive burden of husband's labor on the people of his domain, led to criticism from the general public, and he was impeached by political opponents such as Harami Ishitanomo (1628-1701) and Fukao Dewa, and in 1663 (Kanbun 3), he was dismissed from his magistrate position, and most of his new policies were abolished (Kanbun Reforms). On December 15 of the same year, he suddenly died in Nakano (Tosa Yamada Town) in Yamada Village, Kami County, which was part of his domain. The Nonaka family was abolished, and his surviving family members were confined to Sukumo, Hata County. Kaneyama's grave is on Mount Ushioe (Kochi City), built by his daughter En (1660-1726). Kaneyama Shrine was later built on Mount Godai.

[Yamamoto Dai June 20, 2016]

"Nonaka Kaneyama" by Yokokawa Sueyoshi (1962/New edition, 1990, Yoshikawa Kobunkan) " "Nonaka Kaneyama and His Times" by Hirao Michio (1970, Kochi Prefectural Education Association)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸初期の土佐藩の政治家。名は良継(よしつぐ)。伝右衛門、主計(かずえ)、伯耆(ほうき)と称し、号が兼山、明夷軒。慶長(けいちょう)20年6月播磨(はりま)国（兵庫県）姫路に生まれる。父は野中良明(よしあき)、母は秋田万(まん)、祖母は山内一豊(やまうちかずとよ)の妹合(ごう)姫（慈仙(じせん)院）。父良明は1608年（慶長13）国を出て浪人中1618年に死去。兼山は母とともに土佐に帰り、分家の家老野中直継(なおつぐ)の養子となり、直継の娘市(いち)を妻とす。直継は1622年（元和8）奉行(ぶぎょう)職となったが、直継の死後1631年（寛永8）奉行職を命ぜられ強力な藩政を展開した。南学(なんがく)発展のため谷時中(たにじちゅう)を迎え、江戸から朱子学を導入して、山崎闇斎(やまざきあんさい)、小倉三省(おぐらさんせい)とともに研鑽(けんさん)して海南朱子学（南学）を身につけ、実学として政治に取り入れ、封建道徳の実践に努めた。また『朱子語類』『小学』の訳、『室戸港記』『自省録』『兼山遺草』などの著作をなした。火葬を禁じて土葬とし、同姓娶(めと)らずの考えから市は名のみの妻であった。兼山政治最大の功績は用水路を建設して新田を開発したことだが、物部(ものべ)川の山田堰(ぜき)、仁淀(によど)川の八田(はた)堰・鎌田(かまた)堰をはじめ多くの井溝をつくって、香長(かちょう)、吾南(ごなん)、高岡その他の平野を潤した。新田開発には長宗我部(ちょうそがべ)氏遺臣の一領具足(いちりょうぐそく)の子孫を起用して郷士とし、不満を和らげ軍事力強化の一翼を担わせた。そのほか殖産興業、港湾修築に手腕を発揮したが、一面「本山掟(もとやまおきて)」「弘瀬浦(ひろせうら)掟」「国中(くにじゅう)掟」などを発布して領民支配を強化した。また宇和島(うわじま)藩と沖島(おきのしま)（宿毛(すくも)市）・篠山(ささやま)で境界論争を展開したが、争論や開発のため資金を紙、茶、漆などの専売に依存した。領民の夫役(ぶやく)過重と相まって、民衆の間から非難が起こり、孕石頼母(はらみいしたのも)（1628―1701）、深尾出羽(ふかおでわ)ら政敵の弾劾を受け1663年（寛文3）奉行職を罷免され、その新政策はほとんど廃された（寛文(かんぶん)の改替(かいたい)）。同年12月15日、領地の香美(かみ)郡山田村の中野（土佐山田町）で急死した。野中家は改易となり遺族は幡多(はた)郡宿毛(すくも)幽閉となる。兼山の墓は潮江(うしおえ)山（高知市）にあるが、娘婉(えん)（1660―1726）の建てたもの。のち五台山に兼山神社が建立される。

［山本　大　2016年6月20日］

『横川末吉著『野中兼山』（1962／新装版・1990・吉川弘文館）』▽『平尾道雄著『野中兼山と其の時代』（1970・高知県文教協会）』

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