Urban society and urban governing in Early Modern Japan
A Jokamachi 城下町 (town castle), originated from a medieval warrior's residence, acquired safety, commerce, and divinity, which were needed for a continual development of a city by Sengoku Daimy ...
Urban society and urban governing in Early Modern Japan
A Jokamachi 城下町 (town castle), originated from a medieval warrior's residence, acquired safety, commerce, and divinity, which were needed for a continual development of a city by Sengoku Daimyou 戦国大名. This was secured by military power who achieved merger of market and symbolism of lord power while pursuing national unification. The development of a Jokamachi, a castle town, by the mid-17th century was enabled by Edo bakufu's Ikkokuichizyorei 一国一城令 and Sankin Kotai 参勤交代 that enhanced a town's function as a center of politics, economy, and culture. The Heino Bunri 兵農分離 policy brought warriors into the town to promote commerce by forbidding armament of non-samurai class. However, a Jokamachi became more diversified town of various Chonin 町人 (towns' people), as people left country for city because of big fires, famine, and natural disasters since the mid-17th century.
The reorganization of a town by Chonin from different origins and backgrounds made governing by social classes impossible; therefore an urgent need to make a new urban policy to embrace the whole city and to stabilize urban living grew. Moreover, the advancement of consumer life caused indulgence, the rise of price, and other urban problems, all of which raised the need to control consumption for stabilizing urban life.
The great increase of the sumptuary laws, kenyakurei 倹約令, was witnessed commonly in the mid-17th century Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka areas which showed the recognition of the bakufu to the new social circumstances. In another word, the thrifty laws proved that the Jokamachi was not merely the warriors residence, but also served as an 'outlet of desire' and a 'center of leisure' by consumption. Therefore, the thrifty laws was an example of urban governing of Edo bakufu, the foremost goal of which was stabilization of urban society which was also seen in the urban prosperity policies, such as administering temple festivals, allowing Sumo and Kabuki, and opening of brothels.