Inner courtier - Inner courtier

It can also be read as "Mitton", and in academic terms it is called "Tokuso Hikan". It means a vassal of the Gonai. It refers to a vassal of the main Hojo family (Tokuso family). It can also refer to the entire Hojo clan, including vassals of the Hojo clan. It is a term used to refer to Gokenin, as seen in the case where the Rokuhara Tandai, who was asked by the temple and shrine forces to hand over a Gokenin who had committed an illegal act, offered up their own Gokenin instead. From the perspective of the order with the Shogun at the top, they were merely vassals of the Hojo clan, but as the Tokuso's power grew, they became a force that surpassed the Gokenin. After the mid-Kamakura period, many Gokenin donated their territories to the Hojo clan in order to seek protection. There were cases where Gokenin were disowned by their fathers as unfilial children because they had become Gokenin, which greatly disrupted the family unity of the samurai. Many of them engaged in commercial activities because they were appointed as the stipend holders of the Tokuso territories that were spread throughout the country. The Nagasaki clan, who were the internal kanrei (chief governor), the Bitou clan, the Ando clan, the Suwa clan, and the Hirosawa clan were particularly influential.

[Ichiro Kaizu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「みうちにん」とも読み、学術概念としては「得宗被官(とくそうひかん)」という。御内の被官の意。北条家本家（得宗家）の家人をさす。また北条氏一族の被官も含め北条氏勢力総体をさす場合もある。寺社勢力から非法をした御家人の引渡しを要求された六波羅探題が、かわりに自分の御内人を差し出したという事例にみられるように、御家人に対する用語。将軍を頂点とする秩序からは、北条氏の陪臣(ばいしん)にすぎないが、得宗勢力の伸張に伴って御家人を凌(しの)ぐ勢力となった。鎌倉中期以後、北条氏の庇護を求めて、所領を寄進して御内人になる御家人も多かった。御内人となったために、父から不孝の子として勘当される例もあり、武家の一族結合は大きく動揺した。全国に展開する得宗領の給主に任命されたため、商業活動に従事するものが多い。内管領(ないかんれい)の長崎氏、尾藤(びとう)氏や安東(あんどう)氏、諏訪(すわ)氏、広沢氏などはとくに有力だった。

［海津一朗］

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