Akita Domain

A clan that controlled the six districts of Akita and Senboku (Akita Prefecture) in the northern half of Dewa Province. It is also called the Kubota clan. The clan lord was the Satake clan. They were outsiders. As a result of the Battle of Sekigahara, in 1602 (Keicho 7), Satake Yoshinobu was transferred from Hitachi (more than 540,000 koku) to the former territories of Ando, ​​Tozawa, Onodera, Hondo, and Rokugo clans in the northern Uwa Province, and built a new castle in Kubota (Akita City), which he made into a castle town, leading to the abolition of the clans and the establishment of prefectures. In 1664 (Kanbun 4), he was granted a fief of 200,000 koku in the six districts of Dewa Province and more than 5,800 koku in Shimotsuke (Tochigi Prefecture). After three simultaneous land surveys beginning in 1603 (Keicho 8) and the completion of the accompanying tribute system, the deployment of vassals to nine locations within the domain, and the centralization of control over storehouses, the domain system was established around the Kanbun to Tenna period (1661-1684). From the beginning, the domain focused on developing new fields and managing mines and forests, and its initial rice yield of over 200,000 koku grew to over 390,000 koku by the end of the 17th century. It also thrived at some of the country's leading mines, including the Innai Silver Mine and the Ani Copper Mine, and worked to cultivate forests, following the national motto, "The treasure of a nation is its mountains... The decline of the mountains is the decline of the nation." The diary of Umezu Masakage, who served as the magistrate of mountains, the magistrate of finances, and the chief retainer during the reign of Yoshiaki, is an important historical document of the early history of the domain's government. At the beginning of the 19th century, Satake Yoshikazu tried to promote industry and industrial development, but nearly 80% of the cultivated land was paddy fields, and there were no other notable agricultural products than rice. It was a typical economically backward area, with rice (65%) and mineral products (20%) exported and cotton, cotton wool, salt, paper, etc. imported. The excessive collection of tribute, equivalent to more than 8 koku per 10 koku of land, often hindered the development of rural areas, and since about 75% of the domain's land was allocated to vassals based on local fiefs, the domain's financial difficulties had already become apparent by the mid-17th century, and even though the borrowing of fiefs reached 60%, it was impossible to overcome the problems. In terms of education and culture, Hirata Atsutane, Sato Nobuhiro, and Ando Shoeki are well known, and the Akita Ranga (Akita Western painting) which was the first in the country to adopt Western painting techniques, is noteworthy. This domain is also known for fighting alone against the Oshu-Uetsu Alliance during the Boshin War. In 1871 (Meiji 4), it was incorporated into Akita Prefecture.

[Handa Ichitaro]

"Akita Prefecture History 2 & 3" (1965, Akita Prefecture)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

出羽(でわ)国北半の秋田、仙北(せんぼく)6郡（秋田県）を支配した藩。久保田(くぼた)藩ともいう。藩主佐竹(さたけ)氏。外様(とざま)。関ヶ原の戦いの結果、1602年（慶長7）佐竹義宣(よしのぶ)が常陸(ひたち)（54万石余）から、北羽の安東、戸沢、小野寺、本堂、六郷氏などの旧領に転封、新たに久保田（秋田市）に築城、ここを城下町として廃藩置県に至る。1664年（寛文4）出羽6郡20万石、下野(しもつけ)（栃木県）のうち5800石余の知行(ちぎょう)高が確定した。1603年（慶長8）からの3回に及ぶ一斉検地とこれに伴う貢租(こうそ)制の完成、領内9か所への家臣団の配備、蔵分支配の集中化などを経て、寛文(かんぶん)～天和(てんな)期（1661～1684）のころに藩制が確立した。藩初から新田開発と鉱山、山林経営に力を注ぎ、当初20万石余の石高が17世紀末には39万石余となり、また院内(いんない)銀山、阿仁(あに)銅山など国内屈指の鉱山の稼行も盛んであり、「国の宝は山なり（中略）山の衰えは即(すなわ)ち国の衰えなり」を国是として山林育成にも努めた。義宣のとき山奉行(ぶぎょう)、勘定奉行、家老を歴任した梅津政景(うめづまさかげ)の日記は初期藩政史の重要史料である。19世紀初頭にも佐竹義和(さたけよしまさ)の殖産興業などがあり、産業開発にも努力したが、耕地の8割近くが水田であり、米のほかみるべき農産物がなく、米（65％）と鉱産物（20％）を移出し、木綿、棉(わた)、塩、紙などを移入する典型的な経済的後進地であった。当高10石について8石余相当の過重な貢租収奪は農村の発展を阻害することが多く、また藩高の7割5分前後が地方知行(じかたちぎょう)を基本とする家臣給分のため、藩の財政難はすでに17世紀中葉から顕在化し、知行借上げは6割にも達したが、その克服は不可能であった。文教、文化面では、平田篤胤(ひらたあつたね)、佐藤信淵(さとうのぶひろ)、安藤昌益(あんどうしょうえき)らが知られ、全国に先駆けて洋画の手法を取り入れた秋田蘭画(あきたらんが)の出現など注目すべきものがある。なおこの藩は、戊辰(ぼしん)戦争に際し、孤軍よく奥羽越(おううえつ)列藩同盟軍と対抗したことでも知られている。1871年（明治4）秋田県に編入。

［半田市太郎］

『『秋田県史 2・3』（1965・秋田県）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例