A Study of Hyakusho Ikki (peasant uprising) and "Gimin"(people who rose uprisings) in the domain of HIrosaki : A dispute about moutains and forests during the Bunka era
The purpose of this article is to reconsider peasant uprisings which occurred in the domain of Hirosaki during the
Bunka era. Previous studies of these peasant movements mainly have focused on “Tamijiro Ikki” and “Gimin; FUJITA
Tamijiro”. It has been thought that these peasant movements were caused by the burden of the guard of Ezo. However,
peasants in the domain of Hirosaki rose uprisings caused by dispute about mountains and forests during the Bunka era,
and “Gimin; Denbe of Harada village” appeared from these peasant uprisings. Therefore, in this article, these uprisings
and “Gimin”are considered individually. Some peasant uprisings and riots which occurred in the domain of Hirosaki during
the Bunka era, especially the ones occurred in Nyui village and Yakushido village in 1808, 1809 and 1812, caused by
the mountain border dispute. They tried to fulfill their own request in each united body. In these cases, it can be said that
peasant acted based on the spirits of “Itto” - uniting to satisfy one demand. It is said that they united because they had the
problem how to sort the land of the mountain, not because they were suffered from the burden of the guard of Ezo. The
peasant groups of Owani, Ozaki, Daikoji has united with “Kaibun” - a written order or declaration to incite the action of
people-and attacked the mountain officer and the magistrate’s office in 1811. This riot is called “居土山柴草刈取事件 ”. It
is thought that this case occurred because peasant became indignant that the government refused their claim. Peasant
made a demand on the government for “Akeyama” - the government mountain which peasant could get the tree or something
for their daily life fro. It is difficult to consider that the riot was caused by the burden of the guard of Ezo. From this
riot, it can be seen that “Denbe of Harada village” were profoundly honored as Gimin. In the actual riot, Denbe were not sentenced to death like being beheaded, and also his actions in this riot are not talked about by the following generation as
the legend or heroic tale. After the riot, peasant got the right to enter the government mountain which they had demanded
as “Akeyama”.Nor was this all, peasant were still permitted to enter the mountain after the end of Edo period, without the
mountain being nationalized. In order to pass these achievements to posterity, Denbe has been honored as Gimin.
In these peasant movements in the domain of Hirosaki during Bunka era, they fought for the use of the mountains or
gathered together to form a party in each village unit. We can see the importance of the mountains and forest for peasants
who rose uprisings and riots from the honor of Gimin.Thus when we consider peasant uprisings which occurred in the
domain of Hirosaki during the Bunka era, we have to take account of not only the view of the burden of the guard of Ezo,
but also the use of the mountain for peasants.
弘前藩領における百姓一揆、騒動と義民 : 文化年間の山を巡る争いを中心に
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