Oban - Oban

This was a military corps under the direct control of the Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, and was made up of Hatamoto. It was one of the so-called bankata (guards). They were responsible for guarding Edo Castle, on shift guard duty at Osaka Castle and Nijo Castle in Kyoto, and for duties related to public order in Edo. Some of the Obanshu were also sent on patrols around the country. They were established before the Tokugawa clan entered the Kanto region, but the exact date is unclear. They are the oldest of the bankata systems. At first there were six groups, but by 1635 (Kan'ei 12) the number had doubled to 12 groups. Each group was made up of one head clerk, four group leaders, 50 banshu, 10 yoriki, and 20 doshin. The average stipend of the banshu was 400 to 500 koku, but considering this in terms of the amount of military service given to the Shogunate, the Oban's military strength is estimated to be over 20,000. Many of the guards were former retainers of the Tokugawa clan, the Takeda clan, or the Later Hojo clan. Their territories were mostly limited to the Kanto region.

[Masuo Inorimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府将軍の直轄軍団で、旗本で編成される。いわゆる番方(ばんかた)の一つ。江戸城の警備、大坂城、京都の二条城警衛の交代勤番、江戸の治安に関する職務に従事。また、大番衆のなかから諸国巡察に派遣される場合もあった。創置は徳川氏の関東入国前であるが、年代は未確定である。番方の制度ではいちばん古い。初め6組であったが、1635年（寛永12）には倍の12組となっている。1組の編成は、番頭(ばんがしら)1人、組頭4人、番衆50人、与力10騎、同心20人である。番衆の平均知行高(ちぎょうだか)は400石～500石であるが、これを幕府軍役量から考えて、大番の兵力は2万人余と推定される。番衆の出自は徳川氏の譜代(ふだい)、武田氏、後北条氏の旧臣が多い。知行地の範囲はだいたい関東に限定されている。

［煎本増夫］

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