Documents of the Ashikawa Family

The Ashikawa family home, located near the Daimaru intersection in the Daimaru district, has 152 old documents from the Edo period. The contents of the documents are as follows: Land survey book ( ) , Village Details ( ) These documents include village maps, documents related to the Omaru irrigation system, and documents related to lawsuits, and are historical materials that provide information about the state of Omaru Village in the Edo period and the lives of the farmers who lived there. Enpo ( ) These documents were kept by the Ashigawa family, who served as village officials of Daimaru Village for 197 years, from 1673 to 1870. Among the precious documents from the early modern period, we will introduce some particularly important basic historical documents. (The Ashigawa family also keeps modern historical documents from the Meiji period onwards.)

Illustrated map of Daimaru village (Ashikawa family document 96)

Tenpo ( ) It was created in 1836 and depicts new rice fields, rivers, roads, forests, and embankments in different colors. It also shows the riverbed of the Tama River, the flow of the Omaru Irrigation Canal, and the buildings built within the canal. gutter ( ) Position of, Enshoji Temple ( ) was in front of Notice board ( ) The state of Harachi Shinden ( ) And more.

Musashi Province Tama County Harachi Shinden Land Survey Record ( ) (Ashigawa Family Documents 2)

Shogunate Magistrate of Accounts ( ) Haruo Kamio ( ) but Enkyo ( ) 3 (1746) New land survey ( ) Created by Land survey book ( ) The land survey book shows that Brush ( ) Every Places of interest ( ) (Location name), Rank ( ) hair( Ueda ( )・Nakata ( )・Shimoda ( ) etc), acreage ( ) (area of ​​a plot of land), petitioner ( ) (the cultivator or the cultivator) is recorded. Common land ( ) It is clear that the forests and wilderness areas that were once privately owned were developed and divided into plots of land.

Regarding the submission of the card ( ) [Regarding the petition for the construction of an irrigation channel in Tamagawa] (Ashigawa Family Documents 10)

The Omaru Canal, which was created by taking water from the Tama River in the Omaru district, was used as an agricultural water source to irrigate the rice fields of nine villages in the basin, and was maintained and managed by an irrigation association. This historical document was created after the irrigation water intake facilities were destroyed by a flood of the Tama River. Yasunaga ( ) This is a historical document from 1775, when representatives of nine villages petitioned the irrigation association for restoration of the canal. It shows that the existence of the Omaru Canal was essential for agriculture at the time.

Kanto-bound Supervision Report ( ) (Ashikawa Family Documents 133)

From the middle of the Edo period onwards, the number of small farmers increased, and more people left their villages. Public order in rural areas and cities deteriorated, and in response to this, the " Kanto Regional Director ( ) " was created. This document states, Kanto Regional Director ( ) but Hui Village ( ) It also provides specific methods for carrying out these activities.

Daimaru Village Five-Man Gang Punishment Record ( ) (Ashikawa Family Documents 138)

The Gonin Gang was a group of five neighboring families that was formed to maintain peace and order. Tax ( ) It was an organization for the purpose of ensuring collective responsibility in tax collection, and also functioned as a means of mutual assistance in village life. This historical document was created in 1869 (Meiji 2), and lists various prohibitions imposed by feudal lords, and peasants were required to swear to strictly adhere to them.

Musashi Province Tama County Daimaru Village Details ( ) (Ashigawa Family Documents 152)

Created in 1870 (Meiji 3), it is a historical document that gives an overall picture of Daimaru Village. acreage ( ) , Rice yield ( ) , Land survey ( ) , temples and shrines, Water supply construction ( ) It lists information such as the number of households, population, and farm occupations, giving an idea of ​​what the village was like at the time.