THE DAIMIO CLASS
In the official list of Daimios published at Yedo the pedigree of
each is given; the family name and descent; the period when the title
commenced; the sons and daughters, with the names of their wives and
husbands; where his residence in Yedo is situated, and likewise his
houses in Miako, Osaka and Fusimi; the date of his accession to the
title; who his wife is; his coats-of-arms, of which each Daimio has
two or more; the presents he is to make to the Shiogoon both during
the year when he resides in Yedo and during that when he resides at
his provincial residence; the presents the Shiogoon makes to him on
his coming to Yedo; how his communications are to be carried on with
the Shiogoon and Gorochiu; the shape and color of the leather covering
of his official spears carried before him, as the spear-points are
always carried covered with leather; the uniform or livery of his
retainers; the title of his eldest son; the names and titles of his
large retainers, or Byshing; the mattoyay or solid ensign carried in
his train, the flag he carries on his ships, and the large mark upon
his sails; the amount of his territorial income; the provinces in which
his property lies; the distance of his residence from Yedo; the room in
the palace of the Shiogoon to which he goes; the temple in which he is
buried.
In the official list the Daimios are classed by families (Kay), from
many of which families there are cadets or offshoots.
At the head of the Daimios stand the San Kay, “three families,” Owarri,
Kii, and Mito. Iyeyas in his laws calls the first two from their
cities, Nagoya and Wakayama. There are four provinces from which two
Daimios at one time are not permitted to take a title--Mootz, Mikawa,
Musashi and Etsigo. No Daimio is allowed to take his title of Kami from
any of the three provinces, Kadsusa, Hitatsi, or Kowotsuki--they are
reserved for the imperial family.
Of these Daimios, three are generally known as greater Kokushu; viz.,
1, Kanga; 2, Satsuma; and, 3, Sendai. Fourteen are called lesser
Kokushu: 4, Hosokawa; 5, Kuroda; 6, Aki; 7, Nagato Mowori; 8, Hizen
Nabeshima; 9, Inaba Ikeda; 10, Bizen Ikeda; 11, Isse no Tzu, Towodo;
12, Awa, Hatchiska; 13, Tosa Yamano ootchi; 14, Sataki; 15, Arima
in Tsikugo; 16, Nambu; 17, Ooyay Soongi. Four are new Kokushu: 18,
Etsizen; 19, Tsuyama; 20, Idzumo; 21, Aidzu.
This list comprehends all those who are supposed to be capable of
taking an active share in the government of Yedo, or in ruling
their own districts in the interest of the present dynasty of
Shiogoons.[8] When from any cause, such as age or infirmity, a Daimio
is incapacitated from attending to his duties at Yedo, or when he
becomes tired of the trammels of State to which he is subjected, he may
abdicate, and hand over the dignities or the more irksome part of the
duties of office to his son. If he be suspected of intriguing against
the powers of the State, he may be displaced, and the title taken from
him and given to some relative, or any one to whom the Shiogoon may
be pleased to give it. It seems but rarely that any steps are taken
against the person of a Daimio, further than ordering him into arrest
in his own house, which his successor is often too glad to carry into
effect. In the case of a Daimio being accused or convicted of any great
crime, he may offer to shave his head and become a Buddhist priest,
and so avoid any further consequences. The difficulty of seizing a man
of rank in his own territory has probably led to these compromises.
Therefore the government tries to act through the interest of the
retainers to obtain submission to its decrees. And it is only when
a man is powerful enough and wealthy enough (with personal ability
to boot, as in the case of Choshiu in 1866) to carry on war, that it
becomes necessary to take up arms, and then nothing short of civil war
can be the result.
As a consequence of this state of things, there is a large number of
persons in Japan who have been Daimios, but who are in a position, real
or nominal, of retirement from the world and its cares. These are the
fathers or brothers or relatives of those who now hold the title, and
who have probably been put in to fill the position on account of their
tender age. Many no doubt thus retire of their own free will; but the
disturbances consequent upon Ee Kamong no kami’s vigorous action in
1857 forced others to give up the title and place in order to save them
for their family. Others have, for the same object, committed suicide.
Daimios who have thus retired into private life are called Inkio
(Chin., “Yin ku”)--_i.e._, retired into privacy. He is thenceforth
known generally by the name of his castle or province, with the word
for “late” or “formerly,” saki no, prefixed to the highest title which
he bore.
In 1862 there were 104 of these Inkio Daimios, whose names are given at
the end of the peerage, and of whom the following are most prominent:
1. Owarri, saki no Chiunagoong.--This is the Daimio who was degraded by
the regent.
2. Mimasaka, saki no Chiujo.--This is the thirty-fourth child of the
eleventh Shiogoon, and known as Kakudo.
3. Akashi, saki no Shosho, is also a son of the Shiogoon, and was
adopted by Matzdaira Hiobu no tayu.
4. Ooajima, saki no Shosho. His son is also on the retired list.
5. Etsizen, saki no Chiujo Shoongaku.--He was degraded by the regent,
but was restored, and afterward became regent or Sosai.
A Buddhist name is at times adopted when he does not wish to continue
to bear a title.
When he has shaved his head and becomes a priest, he is called Niudo;
_i.e._, entered the path of Buddha.
Keng, Sei, Ang, and Eeng are Buddhist titles taken by those who have
retired from the world.
The Hattamoto--literally, “the root or foundation of the flag or
army.”--This rank was formerly called Shiomio, “small names,” in
contradistinction to Daimio, “great names.” The Hattamoto are officers
of the Shiogoon’s government, who in rank and emoluments come next
to the Daimios. Hattamoto are eligible to fill all the offices in
the different departments of the Yedo government under the Gorochiu
(to which Daimios alone are appointed). When it is wished to put a
Hattamoto into the Cabinet, he is first given by the Shiogoon territory
equivalent to 10,000 koku per annum. A Hattamoto may be described as an
officer of the government in the possession of land valued from 500 to
9,999 koku. Officers with less than 500 koku are below Hattamoto, and
known as Go kennin; and beneath them are Ko jiu nin. Lower still are
the account-keepers; Oto torimi, bird-keepers; Okatchi, spies and men
about the kitchen; and Yoriki and Do sin. Hattamoto are generally of
the fifth rank, or Shodaibu, and never of the fourth. Some Hattamoto
have titles from the Emperor, others have titles of provinces, as
Daimios have, but those who have any titles are a small minority of
the whole number. Some Hattamoto receive titles for one generation
only, known as Itchi dai Yoriaï. The class is divided into large and
small--the former having from 3,000 to under 10,000 koku of land; the
latter from 500 to 3,000. They are divided into--
1. Kotai Hattamoto, or those who go to Yedo on alternate years.
2. Yoriaï.
3. Ogo bang.--These live in or have charge of a castle, such as Kofu,
Soonpu, etc.
4. Shingo bang.--These act as guards to the Shiogoon in Yedo.
5. O niwa bang.--These are keepers of the gardens, are generally spies,
and consequently avoided by other officers.
Some of the principal families of Hattamoto are the following:
Soonga numa, with 7,000 koku, at Shinshiro, in Mikawa province. An old
family, proud of the family name.
Matzdaira Hissamatz is a relative of Matzdaira Oki no kami, related to
the Shiogoon’s family, and uses the Awoee or crest of the Shiogoon,
with 6,000 koku; lives at Izassa in Shimosa.
Takanoya Matzdaira is the lineal descendant of the Nitta family, with
4,500 koku; lives at Nishingori in Mikawa.
Ikoma Tokutaro was, in the time of Taikosama, a powerful Daimio, is now
a Hattamoto with 8,000 koku, living at Yajima in Dewa.
Yamano Mondo no ske, also a descendant of the Nitta family; was, in the
time of Ashikanga, powerful, with 6,700 koku; resides at Mura oka in
Tajima, is considered a good family, and, as related to the Shiogoon,
has special privileges.
Hirano.--His ancestor, H. Gonpe, was a noted warrior in Taikosama’s
time. The family is much respected, has 5,000 koku, and lives at Sawara
moto in Yamato.
Kinoshta.--Calls himself of the line of Taikosama, with 5,000 koku. His
castle is Tateishi in Boongo.
Yamazaki.--Formerly a powerful family, now with 5,000 koku; resides at
Nariwoo in Bitsjiu; is descended from the third brother of Hatchimang
taro.
Mongami, lineally descended from Ashikanga, is looked upon as a
Kokushiu; resides at Owomori in Owomi, with a revenue of 5,000 koku.
Kowotsuki, at Kowotsuki in Owomi, with 4,700 koku, is the lineal male
descendant of the Ooda Genji line.
Besides these Hattamoto, there are Kotai Yoriaï, who are landed
proprietors of very old families, but who are as Tozama, and take no
part in affairs, such as--
Nassu, a very old family in Shimotsuki.
Mikawa shiu, the line of Iyeyas’s family.
Nakajima Mayra was found in the Mayra district in Kiusiu.
There are, besides these, Hattamoto, styled Hira Yoriaï, with revenues
from below 10,000 koku downward, such as--
Minagawa, with 9,000 koku.
Seigo, and others.
Kondo nobori no ske, with 5,400 koku, who is looked upon as first
Hattamoto, not by rank, but because he refused to take the rank of
Daimio from Iyeyas when offered to him.
Koozai, Foonayoshi.--These two are very wealthy. They were formerly
engaged in trade with the Portuguese in the sixteenth century.--And
many others, with incomes gradually decreasing to 500 koku per annum.
Hattamoto officers have generally been employed on interviews with
foreign embassadors, or as embassadors to foreign courts on the
conclusion of treaties.
Those who negotiated the treaty with Lord Elgin in 1858 were--Midzuno
Tsikugo no kami, a low Hattamoto. He was afterward disgraced, but in
1862 was appointed governor of Hakodadi, and looked upon as a shrewd,
wily man.--Nagai Genba no kami was also a low Hattamoto. He was also
disgraced in the changes which followed, but in September, 1862, was
appointed Sa kio, or street governor of Miako.--Inooyay Sinano no kami
was the minister for naval affairs--was of low origin, the son of
a Gokennin. He negotiated the treaty with Mr. Harris, United States
Minister. He was in 1862 made a governor for foreign affairs.--Hori
Oribay no kami was considered an upright man and just in his dealings.
After the part he took in signing the treaty, he got into difficulties
with Ando and Koozay in the Gorochiu, and committed suicide.--Iwase
Higo no kami, a low Hattamoto, a very cunning man, since dead.--Isuda
Hanzaburo was an obscure Gokennin.
The Dutch treaty was signed by Nagai Genba no kami; Okabay Suruga no
kami, a low Hattamoto; and Iwase Higo no kami.
The Portuguese treaty was signed in 1860 by Misono-gootchi Sanuki no
kami, a high Hattamoto--he was appointed in 1862 general in command
of the castle of Osaka; Sakkai oki no kami, a Hattamoto with 2,000
koku--he is now governor of the exchequer in Yedo; and Matzdaira
Djirobe--had office in 1862 in the castle Kofu.
The embassadors who visited Europe were of the rank of Hattamoto: Take
no ootchi, Simotski no kami, and others. The embassies were accompanied
by agents from the more powerful Daimios, such as Satsuma, Choshiu, and
others, who reported their observations to their own masters.
The Kokay, or Kowokay, as has been before stated, is a class which is
looked upon as intermediate in rank between Daimios and Koongays. They
are not permitted to take part in the affairs of government. They are
the representatives of old families, and receive pay from government.
The class is divided into Kimo iri kokay and Omotte Kokay.
Among the former are Hatake yama. His ancestor was a partisan of
Yoritomo; his tomb is at Kamakura.--Toki, a general of Ashikanga’s
time.--Yura, a powerful family in the time of Ashikanga.--Otta, the
lineal descendant of Nobu nanga.--Rokaku; in the time of Yoritomo known
as Sassaki.--Arima, related to Arima, the Roman Catholic.--Imagawa,
formerly lord of Surunga, and builder of Soonpu castle; defeated
by Iyeyas.--Takeda, of the family of T. Singeng, who fought against
Iyeyas. And others.
Of the Omotte Kokay--There are Owotomo, of the family of Owotomo Boongo
no kami, the great patron of the Jesuits in the sixteenth century. At
one time a very powerful family, possessing the greater portion of
the island of Kiusiu, before the power of Satsuma rose to a height.
The fortunes of the family fell with those of the Jesuits; and to
the league formed against these foreigners, the confiscation of the
extensive property of Owotomo was the stimulus to energy and the reward
of victory.--Ooyay sungi was very powerful in the province of Etsingo,
and the family for long held the office of Kwanrei at Kamakura. The
direct descendant of the Nitta line was Jera matz manjiro. He was
naturally a proud man, and refused to come to Yedo when Iyeyas invited
him, and, in consequence, he lost his position; but the other Daimios,
who trace their origin to the same source--the Nitta family--support
him in a position equal to themselves.
The class of officers next below the Hattamoto is the Gokennin. The
highest income they receive from government is less than 500 koku per
annum.
Beneath the Gokennin, officers come under the general classification of
Yakunins or officials--literally, “business men.” This name is applied
to the lower officers employed by the Shiogoon--such as Kumi gashira,
Shirabbe yaku, Jo yaku, and Shtabang. There are no Yakunins in Miako;
there the Emperor’s sub-officials are called Kwannin.
Every Yakunin is supposed to swear that he will do whatever, right or
wrong, he is ordered to do by his government.
It is not permitted to Gokennin, or to officials of lower rank, to ride
in Yedo or upon the highroads; they must walk.
Such being the details of the officers under the Shiogoon, the
government is so well regulated as to have worked with comparative
smoothness for 250 years. The safeguards and checks which were devised
by Iyeyas have been in operation up to recent times. The setting
apart of three families from the members of which the Shiogoon might
be chosen, gives a powerful support to the reigning family. The
designation of four families, from out of which a regent might be
appointed, and the further naming of thirteen families from out of
which the Cabinet was advised to be formed, out of the broader basis
of 135 Fudai or working Daimios, who were generally comparatively
poor, gave to all the higher classes a consistency of interest in the
existing state of things. Power over the person of the individual, and
over his personal power of mischief, in regard to the more powerful
princes, was sought to be obtained by the detention of the wives and
families in Yedo, and by visiting the sins of an intriguing prince,
not upon his family or retainers, but upon himself alone. It would
appear that when the Shiogoon is of age, and of sufficient capacity,
he will appoint his own ministers out of the different families named
by Iyeyas to this end. It is to the interest of the State as well as
of the Kokushiu that they should continue unmolested in the possession
of their extensive territories and jurisdiction; and intrigues are
prevented as far as possible by no one being allowed to visit another
within his territories. While the power which the government held over
the persons and property of these powerful princes, by having the wives
and families as hostages at Yedo, was promoted by the wish for their
welfare on the part of the husbands or parents, it was kept in force by
the strange custom of these powerful lords coming up to the court at
Yedo every alternate year, or, in some cases, every six months. Perhaps
this was aided by the dullness of their country quarters compared with
the gayety of the capital. If the Shiogoon be a minor, or incapable of
holding the reins of power, the ablest or the least scrupulous of those
who have any claim to the situation becomes regent, and he rules the
empire for the time being. A regency, however, has not been frequently
necessary during the rule of the present family, but the appointment
has never been held by one man for more than three years, and the
tenure, it is said, has generally been terminated by assassination.
The regent removes his political foes, and appoints in their place men
holding his own views. He carries himself as a ruler over men who are
his superiors in wealth and rank--the Ko kushiu. These men are still
obliged to repair to Yedo, where they find, in place of an acknowledged
superior, a haughty inferior, to whom they must pay court. This is one
weak point of the system, and that upon which it threatened to break
up. This forms the last chapter of the history of the empire.
The above is a sketch of the court of the Shiogoon, with which one must
be acquainted before the past history or the current events in the
empire can be thoroughly understood.