Metsuke - Metsuke

In the Muromachi period, it was a person who served under the Samurai-dokoro Shoshidai in pursuit of thieves, and in the Sengoku to Oda-Momoyama periods, it was a person who was in charge of reconnaissance of the enemy, inspection of military achievements, and supervision of military commanders' administration. In the Edo period, it was a job title of the shogunate and various feudal domains. The shogunate's metsuke were appointed from the Keicho and Genna periods (1596-1624), and their number initially ranged from a dozen to twenty, but after 1732 (Kyoho 17), it was fixed at ten, and they were called Junin metsuke. They belonged to the Wakadoshiyori and were responsible for inspecting inside and outside Edo Castle, directing the etiquette of the palace, attending the Hyojosho, witnessing the verdicts of the decrees of sudden adoptions of lands with less than ten thousand koku of rice, and supervising the processions of imperial visits. In addition, two metsuke, one for the main position and one for the additional position, were always on duty in the castle, and they were extremely well prepared. The number of officers was increased at the end of the Edo period, and they were assigned duties such as foreign affairs and coastal defense. They were in the position of cloth wear, and in 1665 (Kanbun 5) they were paid a salary of 500 straw bales (added to their stipends in 1682). In 1723 (Kyoho 8) their salary was set at 1000 koku. They were also stationed in the Nishinomaru, and although they were temporary positions at first, they became permanent positions after 1724. Positions with the same name were also placed in various feudal domains, and their duties were diverse.

[Mieko Matsuo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

室町時代には侍所(さむらいどころ)所司代の下で盗賊追捕(ついぶ)などに従った者、戦国～織豊(しょくほう)期には敵情偵察や戦功の査察、武将の施政監察などにあたった者をいう。江戸時代には幕府、諸藩の職名。幕府の目付は、慶長(けいちょう)・元和(げんな)期（1596～1624）より置かれ、人数は初め十数人から二十数人に及んだが、1732年（享保17）以降10人に固定し、十人目付と称された。若年寄に属して、江戸城内外の査察、殿中礼法の指揮、評定所(ひょうじょうしょ)立会い、万石以下急養子の判元見届け、御成(おなり)の行列の監督などを勤めた。また常時、本番・加番2人の目付が城内に宿直し、非常に備えた。幕末に増員され、外国掛、海防掛などの職務を分掌した。布衣(ほい)の職で、1665年（寛文5）役料500俵を支給（1682年、家禄(かろく)に加えられる）。1723年（享保8）制定の役高は1000石とされた。西の丸にも置かれ、初めは臨時の職であったが、1724年以降常置となった。同名の職は諸藩にも置かれ、職掌は多岐にわたった。

［松尾美恵子］

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