「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」シリーズ。
　わが家系の歴史の中での「ターニングポイント」と思える亨保３（1718）年の百姓一揆についての芸州浅野藩の関係記録文書を「広島県史」のなかで発見。
　いわゆる戦後教育を受け続けてきたわたしたち年代では、江戸期の「百姓一揆」は正義の行動、止むにやまれぬ民意の表出というように教育されてきたと思う。家系がこうした百姓一揆によって「打ち毀し」されたという事実は誰からも聞いたことがなかったので、単純にその教育内容を受け入れていた。
　家系史を400年以上遡ってたどってみると、DNAのいのちの連鎖はその時代環境の中で必死に「最適解」を生き抜こうと志向してきたことがわかる。その時代環境がどのように変容してくるかは、個々には見通せる由もない。武家支配体制が強固に確立された時代に、藩による指名を受けて地域の経済を「管掌」する立場に立たされることになって、その職務に向き合うことには余念はなかっただろうと思う。
　しかし極論すれば米作生産の土地支配だけに依拠した武家による経済概念は、経済発展への不適応が顕在化してくることになる。封建独裁体制から市場経済社会への移行の「きしみ」。
　わが家系はこの年、百姓一揆の蜂起によって家屋敷を打ち壊された。史実資料を見てみると百姓一揆には「掟」があって、その村の庄屋や、それを束ねる浅野藩での役職・所務役宅への攻撃・打ち毀しには、他村の民が「けっして放火はしない」という倫理基準に基づいて整然と打ち壊していたとされる。
　上の文書は、この一揆後の打ち壊された所務役などへの慰撫策として、屋敷建築の再建に当たってその費用の一部に「憐れみの心を持って」対応する旨が記載されている。「人数を催し、了簡違いで村役人を目当て家財などを破却」されたことに対して（取り締まるべき）役人ども（たぶん武士たち）が役に立たなかったことを認め「古格に戻す」（建て直す）に際して「御扶持・切米」を渡すという文意。
　武家社会の矛盾を一身に受ける「散華」感に、無念無常を感じる。
　家系はこの惨禍から、塩浜づくり〜商家への転身を企図していくことになる。・・・

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English version⬇

[1718 Domain Records: Village Official Hara’s “Destruction”]
The injustice of village headmen becoming targets for attacks on the economic contradictions of samurai rule. The darkening of efforts to find the best way to live within society, a journey through the night. …

　The “Four Hundred Years of Life’s Resume” Series.
Within the “History of Hiroshima Prefecture,” I discovered documents related to the Asano Domain of Aki Province concerning the peasant uprising of Kyōhō 3 (1718), which I consider a turning point in my family’s history.
　For those of us who grew up under the so-called postwar education system, I believe we were taught that Edo-period “peasant uprisings” were righteous actions, unavoidable expressions of popular will. Since I had never heard from anyone that my family lineage had been “destroyed” by such a peasant uprising, I simply accepted that educational narrative.
　Tracing my family history back over 400 years reveals that the chain of life in our DNA has always strived to find the “optimal solution” for survival within the circumstances of each era. How those circumstances would change was something no individual could foresee. During the era when the samurai-dominated system was firmly established, our family was appointed by the domain to oversee the local economy. I imagine they devoted themselves entirely to this duty.
However, to put it bluntly, the samurai’s economic concept, relying solely on land control for rice production, became increasingly ill-suited for economic development. It was the “creaking” of transition from a feudal autocracy to a market economy.
　That year, my family’s residence was destroyed by a peasant uprising. Historical records indicate these uprisings followed strict “rules”: attacks were directed only at the village headman’s house and the official residences of the Asano domain’s administrators overseeing the village. Based on an ethical standard that “under no circumstances should arson be used,” they systematically demolished these structures while refraining from burning other villagers’ homes.
　The document above describes a consolation measure following this uprising, where the authorities agreed to cover part of the reconstruction costs for the destroyed administrative offices “with a compassionate heart.” It acknowledges that the officials (likely samurai) who should have enforced order were ineffective against the mob (“gathering in numbers, targeting village officials and destroying their property due to minor disputes”), and states that “support and rice allowances” would be provided when rebuilding “to restore the old order.”
One feels a sense of futility and impermanence in this “scattering of petals,” embodying the contradictions of samurai society.
　Following this calamity, the family lineage would plot a transition from salt field cultivation to becoming merchants. …

●Notice
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Available for purchase on Amazon.

Posted on 2月 1st, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類