Utsunomiya Family Code

Japanese: 宇都宮家式条 - うつのみやけしきじょう

This is the family law of the Utsunomiya clan, a powerful feudal lord in Shimotsuke, established during the Kamakura period. It is also called the Utsunomiya Family Koan Shikijo. It was established by Utsunomiya Kagetsuna, who was a member of the Council of Councilors and Hikitsukeshu of the Kamakura Shogunate. It consists of 70 articles. The opening page reads, "Privately fixed articles, Koan 6th year, Kibi," which shows that it was established in 1283 (Koan 6) as the private family law of the Utsunomiya clan. It is one of the earliest samurai laws, and although there are dissenting opinions about the date of its establishment, including the theory that it was based on a later date, the current theory that it was established in Koan 6 is the most widely accepted. It was established about 50 years after the Goseibai Shikimoku, the Shogunate's basic legal code, and was strongly influenced by it.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

鎌倉時代に定められた下野の豪族的領主宇都宮氏の家法。《宇都宮家弘安式条》ともいう。鎌倉幕府の評定衆･引付衆であった宇都宮景綱の制定。全70ヵ条。巻頭に〈私ニ定置条々　弘安六年癸未〉とあり，1283年(弘安6)宇都宮氏の私的な家法として定められたことがわかる。武家法としては最も早いものの一つであり，成立時期については後年の仮託説など異論もあるが，現在では弘安6年説が有力。幕府の基本法典たる《御成敗式目》より約50年後の成立であり，その影響を強く受ける。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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