Letter of consent - Wayojo

A contract that was exchanged when a settlement was concluded in the Middle Ages. A settlement means to settle and withdraw a lawsuit that was filed, but from the mid-Kamakura period onwards, as the power of the land stewards expanded, disputes between manor lords and land stewards became frequent, and lawsuits were frequently brought to the shogunate to seek resolution. However, there was also a method of settling disputes through direct discussion between the two parties without going to the shogunate's courts. This is called a settlement. It can be done while a lawsuit is in progress, or it can be done before that happens. There are two types of settlement documents: one signed jointly by both parties, and one written and signed by each party separately. For example, a document with a seal on the back of the document from the shogunate's magistrate was issued by the shogunate. A letter of approval was also issued by the shogunate in the form of a formal order approving the settlement. Sometimes a drawing of the settlement was drawn to illustrate the settlement. In contrast, a settlement without a letter of approval is called a private settlement.

[Okuno Nakahiko]

"A Study of Kazuyo" by Kozo Hirayama (1964, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中世において和与が成立して取り交わされる契約書。和与とは和解して、提起した訴訟を取り下げることをいうが、鎌倉時代の中期以降、地頭(じとう)権の伸張に伴って荘園(しょうえん)領主と地頭との間に紛争が頻発し、その解決を求めて、しきりに幕府に訴訟が持ち込まれた。しかし、この幕府の裁判によらず両者の直接の話し合いによって解決する方法もとられた。これが和与である。訴訟進行中に行われる場合と、それに至らないで行われる場合がある。和与状は当事者双方の連署するものと、各自別々に作成して署名するものとの2種があり、幕府奉行人(ぶぎょうにん)の裏判(うらはん)を受けるのを例とした。また幕府からは和与を認可する旨の下知(げち)状の形式をとった裁許状が出された。なお和与の結集を図絵した和与絵図が描かれる場合もあった。これに対し裁許状のないものを私和与という。

［奥野中彦］

『平山行三著『和与の研究』（1964・吉川弘文館）』

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