TOKUGAWA JAPAN DOCUMENTS:
CLOSED COUNTRY EDICT OF 1635
1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave for foreign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there is anyone who attempts to do so secretly, he must be executed. The ship so involved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the matter must be reported to the higher authority.
3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death.
4. If there is any place where the teachings of padres [Christianity] is practiced, the two of you must order a thorough investigation.
5. Any informer revealing the whereabouts of the followers of the followers of padres [Christians] must be rewarded accordingly. If anyone reveals the whereabouts of a high ranking padre [priest], he must be given one hundred pieces of silver. For those of lower ranks, depending on the deed, the reward must be set accordingly.
6. If a foreign ship has an objection [to the measures adopted] and it becomes necessary to report the matter to Edo, [Tokyo] you may ask the Omura domain to provide ships to guard the foreign ship, as was done previously.
7. If there are any Southern Barbarians [Westerners] who propagate the teachings of the padres, or otherwise commit crimes, they may be incarcerated in the prison maintained by the Omura domain, as was done previously.
8. All incoming ships must be carefully searched for the followers of the padres.
9. No single trading city [see 12 below] shall be permitted to purchase all the merchandise brought by foreign ships.
10. Samurai are not permitted to purchase any goods originating from foreign ships directly from Chinese merchants in Nagasaki.
11. After a list of merchandise brought by foreign ships is sent to Edo, as before you may order that commercial dealings may take place without waiting for a reply from Edo.
12. After settling the price, all white yarns [raw silk] brought by foreign ships shall be allocated to the five trading cities6 and other quarters as stipulated.
13. After settling the price of white yarns [raw silk], other merchandise [brought by foreign ships] may be traded freely between the [licensed] dealers. However, in view of the fact that Chinese ships are small and cannot bring large consignments, you may issue orders of sale at your discretion. Additionally, payment for goods purchased must be made within twenty days after the price is set.
14. The date of departure homeward of foreign ships shall not be later than the twentieth day of the ninth month. Any ships arriving in Japan later than usual shall depart within fifty days of their arrival. As to the departure of Chinese ships, you may use your discretion to order their departure after the departure of the Portuguese galeota [galleon].
15. The goods brought by foreign ships which remained unsold may not be deposited or accepted for deposit.
16. The arrival in Nagasaki of representatives of the five trading cities shall not be later than the fifth day of the seventh month. Anyone arriving later than that date shall lose the quota assigned to his city.
17. Ships arriving in Hirado must sell their raw silk at the price set in Nagasaki, and are not permitted to engage in business transactions until after the price is established in Nagasaki.
You are hereby required to act in accordance with the Provisions set above. It is so ordered.
(From Stearns, Peter N., et. al. Documents in World History. Vol. 2. 6th ed. Pearson. 2012.)
EXCLUSION OF THE PORTUGUESE, 1639
1. The matter relating to the proscription of Christianity is known [to the Portuguese]. However, heretofore they have secretly transported those who are going to propagate that religion.
2. If those who believe in that religion band together in an attempt to do evil things, they must be subjected to punishment.
3. While those who believe in the preaching of the priests are in hiding, there are incidents in which chat country [Portugal] has sent gifts to them for their sustenance.
In view of the above, hereafter entry by the Portuguese galeota is forbidden. If they insist on coming [to Japan], the ships must be destroyed and anyone aboard those ships must be beheaded. We have received the above order and are thus transmitting it to you accordingly.
The above concerns our disposition with regard to the galeota.
Memorandum
With regard to those who believe in Christianity, you are aware that there is a proscription, and thus knowing, you are not permitted to let priests and chose who believe in their preaching to come aboard your ships. If there is any violation, all of you who are aboard will be considered culpable. If there is anyone who hides the fact that he is a Christian and boards your ship, you may report it to us. A substantial reward will be given to you for this information.
This memorandum is to be given to those who come on Chinese ships. [A similar note to the Dutch ships.]
A CONFUCIAN SCHOLAR SEES CHANGES, CA 1720
[Ogyū Sorai (1666-1728) was a leading Confucian scholar.]
In olden days, the countryside had hardly any money and all the purchase was made with rice or barley but not with money. This is what I [the author, Ogyū Sorai] experienced while living in the countryside. However, I have heard that from the Genroku period [1688-1704] on, money economy has spread to the countryside, and they now use money to purchase things....
Nowadays [i.e., the Kyōhō period, 1716-1735], samurai are forced to live in castle towns in discharge of their duties. Living away from home, in a manner similar to travelers seeking lodging, requires cash for sustenance. They must sell rice [the stipends that they receive from their lord] for cash, and purchase their daily needs from merchants. In this way, merchants become masters while samurai are relegated to the position of customers, unable to determine prices fixed on different commodities. In olden days when samurai lived on their own lands, they had no need to sell their rice. Merchants came to buy rice, and under such circumstances, samurai remained masters and the merchants their customers. Prices of different commodities were dictated by the samurai class. This is the law that was established by the ancient sage [i.e., Confucius] in his infinite wisdom. It must remain inviolable through the ages. One recommendation I have is to charge an exorbitantly high price for the rice and force the merchants to eat grains other than rice.
A MERCHANT’S OBSERVATIONS, CA. 1730
[Mitsui Takahira (1653-1737), was one of the wealthiest merchant-financiers of his day. His father founded the vast Mitsui business dynasty.]
The world is divided into four classes—samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. Each man works at his calling, and his descendants carry on the business and establish the family. Merchants in particular, although divided into various lines of business, are all concerned primarily with the profit to be earned on money. In rural areas, merchants pay deference to their respective provincial lords and squires. When they look at their superiors, they see no great splendor and so do not get carried away. Thus most of them work at their business generation after generation. As for the merchants of Kyoto, Edo and Osaka, the founder of the firm, starting either in a country area or as someone’s clerk, gradually works his way up, extends his business and, with the idea of leaving a fortune to his descendants, lives frugally all his life, paying no heed to anything but his family business. After he has built up a record of difficulties and sufferings, his son inherits the family business. Having learned from observation of his father’s frugality and having passed his formative years while the house was still not so prosperous, he just manages to keep things intact during his lifetime. When it comes to the grandchildren’s time, however, having been brought up after the family had already become rich and knowing nothing of physical hardships or of the value of money, they unconsciously pick up the ways of the world, get big ideas, leave their family business to others and pass their time in idleness. With their personal expenses mounting, they gradually grow older. Even if they pay any attention to their business affairs, they do not know how to run them. While letting their expenses rise, they borrow ready money from other people. The usual thing is for them gradually to become saddled with interest payments and to end by ruining their houses. We know from our own observation that notable merchant houses of Kyoto generally are ruined in the second or third generation and disappear from the scene. The old sayings “Some begin well, but few end well” and “When you are in safety, do not forget dangers” are applicable to one who in his own generation sets up a family business and gains wealth. How much more do they apply to one who receives his father’s savings by inheritance and has had wealth from his upbringing.
1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave for foreign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there is anyone who attempts to do so secretly, he must be executed. The ship so involved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the matter must be reported to the higher authority.
3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death.
4. If there is any place where the teachings of padres [Christianity] is practiced, the two of you must order a thorough investigation.
5. Any informer revealing the whereabouts of the followers of the followers of padres [Christians] must be rewarded accordingly. If anyone reveals the whereabouts of a high ranking padre [priest], he must be given one hundred pieces of silver. For those of lower ranks, depending on the deed, the reward must be set accordingly.
6. If a foreign ship has an objection [to the measures adopted] and it becomes necessary to report the matter to Edo, [Tokyo] you may ask the Omura domain to provide ships to guard the foreign ship, as was done previously.
7. If there are any Southern Barbarians [Westerners] who propagate the teachings of the padres, or otherwise commit crimes, they may be incarcerated in the prison maintained by the Omura domain, as was done previously.
8. All incoming ships must be carefully searched for the followers of the padres.
9. No single trading city [see 12 below] shall be permitted to purchase all the merchandise brought by foreign ships.
10. Samurai are not permitted to purchase any goods originating from foreign ships directly from Chinese merchants in Nagasaki.
11. After a list of merchandise brought by foreign ships is sent to Edo, as before you may order that commercial dealings may take place without waiting for a reply from Edo.
12. After settling the price, all white yarns [raw silk] brought by foreign ships shall be allocated to the five trading cities6 and other quarters as stipulated.
13. After settling the price of white yarns [raw silk], other merchandise [brought by foreign ships] may be traded freely between the [licensed] dealers. However, in view of the fact that Chinese ships are small and cannot bring large consignments, you may issue orders of sale at your discretion. Additionally, payment for goods purchased must be made within twenty days after the price is set.
14. The date of departure homeward of foreign ships shall not be later than the twentieth day of the ninth month. Any ships arriving in Japan later than usual shall depart within fifty days of their arrival. As to the departure of Chinese ships, you may use your discretion to order their departure after the departure of the Portuguese galeota [galleon].
15. The goods brought by foreign ships which remained unsold may not be deposited or accepted for deposit.
16. The arrival in Nagasaki of representatives of the five trading cities shall not be later than the fifth day of the seventh month. Anyone arriving later than that date shall lose the quota assigned to his city.
17. Ships arriving in Hirado must sell their raw silk at the price set in Nagasaki, and are not permitted to engage in business transactions until after the price is established in Nagasaki.
You are hereby required to act in accordance with the Provisions set above. It is so ordered.
(From Stearns, Peter N., et. al. Documents in World History. Vol. 2. 6th ed. Pearson. 2012.)
EXCLUSION OF THE PORTUGUESE, 1639
1. The matter relating to the proscription of Christianity is known [to the Portuguese]. However, heretofore they have secretly transported those who are going to propagate that religion.
2. If those who believe in that religion band together in an attempt to do evil things, they must be subjected to punishment.
3. While those who believe in the preaching of the priests are in hiding, there are incidents in which chat country [Portugal] has sent gifts to them for their sustenance.
In view of the above, hereafter entry by the Portuguese galeota is forbidden. If they insist on coming [to Japan], the ships must be destroyed and anyone aboard those ships must be beheaded. We have received the above order and are thus transmitting it to you accordingly.
The above concerns our disposition with regard to the galeota.
Memorandum
With regard to those who believe in Christianity, you are aware that there is a proscription, and thus knowing, you are not permitted to let priests and chose who believe in their preaching to come aboard your ships. If there is any violation, all of you who are aboard will be considered culpable. If there is anyone who hides the fact that he is a Christian and boards your ship, you may report it to us. A substantial reward will be given to you for this information.
This memorandum is to be given to those who come on Chinese ships. [A similar note to the Dutch ships.]
A CONFUCIAN SCHOLAR SEES CHANGES, CA 1720
[Ogyū Sorai (1666-1728) was a leading Confucian scholar.]
In olden days, the countryside had hardly any money and all the purchase was made with rice or barley but not with money. This is what I [the author, Ogyū Sorai] experienced while living in the countryside. However, I have heard that from the Genroku period [1688-1704] on, money economy has spread to the countryside, and they now use money to purchase things....
Nowadays [i.e., the Kyōhō period, 1716-1735], samurai are forced to live in castle towns in discharge of their duties. Living away from home, in a manner similar to travelers seeking lodging, requires cash for sustenance. They must sell rice [the stipends that they receive from their lord] for cash, and purchase their daily needs from merchants. In this way, merchants become masters while samurai are relegated to the position of customers, unable to determine prices fixed on different commodities. In olden days when samurai lived on their own lands, they had no need to sell their rice. Merchants came to buy rice, and under such circumstances, samurai remained masters and the merchants their customers. Prices of different commodities were dictated by the samurai class. This is the law that was established by the ancient sage [i.e., Confucius] in his infinite wisdom. It must remain inviolable through the ages. One recommendation I have is to charge an exorbitantly high price for the rice and force the merchants to eat grains other than rice.
A MERCHANT’S OBSERVATIONS, CA. 1730
[Mitsui Takahira (1653-1737), was one of the wealthiest merchant-financiers of his day. His father founded the vast Mitsui business dynasty.]
The world is divided into four classes—samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. Each man works at his calling, and his descendants carry on the business and establish the family. Merchants in particular, although divided into various lines of business, are all concerned primarily with the profit to be earned on money. In rural areas, merchants pay deference to their respective provincial lords and squires. When they look at their superiors, they see no great splendor and so do not get carried away. Thus most of them work at their business generation after generation. As for the merchants of Kyoto, Edo and Osaka, the founder of the firm, starting either in a country area or as someone’s clerk, gradually works his way up, extends his business and, with the idea of leaving a fortune to his descendants, lives frugally all his life, paying no heed to anything but his family business. After he has built up a record of difficulties and sufferings, his son inherits the family business. Having learned from observation of his father’s frugality and having passed his formative years while the house was still not so prosperous, he just manages to keep things intact during his lifetime. When it comes to the grandchildren’s time, however, having been brought up after the family had already become rich and knowing nothing of physical hardships or of the value of money, they unconsciously pick up the ways of the world, get big ideas, leave their family business to others and pass their time in idleness. With their personal expenses mounting, they gradually grow older. Even if they pay any attention to their business affairs, they do not know how to run them. While letting their expenses rise, they borrow ready money from other people. The usual thing is for them gradually to become saddled with interest payments and to end by ruining their houses. We know from our own observation that notable merchant houses of Kyoto generally are ruined in the second or third generation and disappear from the scene. The old sayings “Some begin well, but few end well” and “When you are in safety, do not forget dangers” are applicable to one who in his own generation sets up a family business and gains wealth. How much more do they apply to one who receives his father’s savings by inheritance and has had wealth from his upbringing.
