Housemaid - Okujochu

During the Edo period, these were maids who served in the inner quarters of the Shogun family, feudal lords, and hatamoto families. They were also called palace maids. In the Shogun family's inner quarters, there were two types of maids: those who served the Shogun and those who served the Midai-dokoro. Depending on their position, they were divided into those with a rank of Omemie or above and those below Omemie. Positions above Omemie included Jourou (often from noble families), Otoshiyori, Chunoshiyori, Ashirai, Nakatsuyori, Gobozu, Okosho, Ojoguchi, Tomoe, Otsugi, Oyuhitsu, Otekisho, Gofuku-no-ma, and positions below Omemie included Gosan-no-ma, Ohiro-zashiki, Ohi-no-ban, Oshiban, Onakai, Osue, and Oinukodomo. The ladies-in-waiting for the Ooku were women of nobles or hatamoto vassals, but even townsfolk sometimes served under the tutelage of a hatamoto. When employed, they were required to submit a written pledge that they would not reveal anything about the inner palace to anyone else. They were required to remain in service for the rest of their lives, but lower-ranking maids could be released if they requested. Many relatives of higher-ranking maids, such as concubines, were appointed to important positions in the shogunate, and the power of the inner palace sometimes influenced public politics. The same rule was probably followed in the households of feudal lords as well.

[Kitahara Akio]

"The Life of Samurai in the Edo Period" edited by Yoshimoto Shinji, Revised Edition (1969, Yuzankaku Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代に将軍家や大名・旗本など諸家の奥向きに仕えた女中をいう。御殿女中ともいう。将軍家の大奥には、将軍付の女中と御台所(みだいどころ)付の女中の2系統があり、またその役職に応じて御目見(おめみえ)以上と御目見以下の身分に区別された。御目見以上の役職には上﨟(じょうろう)（公家(くげ)の出身が多い）、御年寄、中年寄、御客会釈(あしらい)、中﨟、御坊主、御小姓(おこしょう)、御錠口(おじょうぐち)、表使、御次、御右筆(おゆうひつ)、御切手書、呉服之間(ごふくのま)があり、御目見以下の役職には御三之間、御広座敷、御火之番、御使番、御仲居、御末、御犬子供(おいぬこども)などがあった。大奥女中は公家や旗本の女のうちから召し出されたが、町人の女でも旗本を仮親とし出仕することがあった。奉公の際は、奥向きのことはいっさい他言しないなどの誓紙を差し出した。その身は一生奉公をたてまえとしたが、下級の女中は願い出ると暇が出された。側妾などの上級の女中の縁者で幕府要職に取り立てられた者も多く、また奥向きの勢力が表向きの政治に影響を及ぼすこともあった。大名の諸家でも、ほぼこれに準じたものであろう。

［北原章男］

『進士慶幹編『江戸時代武士の生活』増補版（1969・雄山閣出版）』

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