才能豊かな「科学者」である久米通賢さんは幕末期を生きた。
1780年〜1841年という時代。
そして生を受けたのは江戸幕藩体制の四国での徳川家連枝・高松藩。
庶民には利発な少年であったかれを大阪に留学させ科学研究させるほどの
自由さはあった社会だけれど、公は徳川家を中心とする封建の世。
父の死後、比較的自由な農家・船乗りといった生業の家を継いで帰郷した。
科学者としての研究は継続して取り組み、大砲や銃器の開発に取り組んでいた。
また測量の才で藩に採用されて日本初の領内の実測地図を作成したり
公儀・幕府の命による伊能忠敬の実測測量での地図造りにも協力している。
そういうなかで親藩・高松藩の領主から藩財政立て直しの献策を求められる。
その結果1824年提出したのが、坂出の塩田開発計画。
地域としての環瀬戸内海の環境をフルに活かした産業として
製塩に注目してその大規模化、官製工業化を計画した。

かれ久米通賢は、人生の盛りの時期であり公共のための事業として
郷土のためにその才能を活かす、いわば「奉公」という意識だったように思える。
幕末期であり他藩では尊皇攘夷思想が盛り上がりを見せていたが、
政治的な信条とかはその記録からはうかがえない。
科学者としてのかれはこういうことで自らの生きた証と考えた気がする。
テクノラートとして公に尽くす、ということが命題になったのか。
世はその「公」のありようについて世情が混乱していく一方で
地域の基本産業に注力してその実現に心血を注いでいる。
その奉公の対象としては既存体制である藩への忠誠の結果になる。
広大な塩田開発で、日本の塩生産の過半を占めるまでになった事業。
しかし途中からは藩財政のきびしさから資金が絶たれ、
終盤期には自費での事業継続・完成になっていったとされる。
藩主としては大いに喜んだけれど経済的報酬責任は果たすことができなかった。
３枚目の写真は「阪出墾田の碑」という藩主による事業への顕彰。
〜坂出塩田は３年余の月日と久米通賢の辛苦で竣工。藩主松平頼恕は功を称え、
偉大な業績を不朽とするため墾田地の東西中央の天神社境内に碑を建て顕彰した。
碑の製作は江戸で行われ文は儒員岡内棣・書は楷隷書日本一と称された
加賀藩の市河米庵に依頼し彫刻は江戸の名工広瀬群亀に刻させたもの。
坂出市発展の起点として大きな意義を持ち江戸期碑石として貴重。
このため、昭和32年１月坂出市文化財に指定された。〜
・・・ということだが、実質をともなわない名誉報酬だと思える。
結果としてかれ久米通賢は経済的苦境に立ち至ってしまった。

わたしの家系の江戸期の先祖も似たような事跡が見られる。
公に尽くす経済行為に対して幕藩体制の不条理な対応が目に余る。
庶民としては奉公の側面があって、まさか見捨てられるとは思わないけれど
地域権力としては約定を反古にせざるを得ない。
この久米通賢さんの場合は民が尊崇を示しまだしも家が残っているけれど、
空虚を感じさせる床の間の様子には、無念の思いも感じられる。
家財を傾けて奉公したけれど、その公は消え去った。
久米通賢という人物事跡が地域的に留まっていることがいかにも残念。

English version⬇

[Absurd “public” project in the late Edo period ③ Shikoku living space exploration-34]
Achievement of public works with private property that was not fully rewarded. An inscription of a feudal lord who gave only honor. The absurdity of humans and political power.・ ・ ・

A talented “scientist”, Kume Michikata lived in the late Tokugawa period.
The era from 1780 to 1841.
The person who was born was the Tokugawa Shogunate and Takamatsu Domain in Shikoku under the Edo Bakuhan system.
He was a clever boy for the common people, and he sent him to study abroad in Osaka for scientific research.
Although it is a society with freedom, the public is a feudal world centered on the Tokugawa family.
After the death of his father, he took over a relatively free farmer and sailor’s home and returned home.
He continued his research as a scientist, working on the development of cannons and firearms.
He also made the first actual measurement map of Japan’s territory when he was adopted by the clan because of his talent for surveying.
He is also cooperating with the map making by the actual survey of Ino Tadataka by the order of the official court and the shogunate.
Under such circumstances, he is requested by the lord of the Shinpan domain, the Takamatsu domain, to make a dedication to rebuilding the finances of the domain.
As a result, he submitted the Sakaide Shioda Development Plan in 1824.
As an industry that makes full use of the environment of the Kan Seto Inland Sea as a region
He focused on salt production and planned to increase the scale and industrialize it.

Kume Michikata was at the height of his life and as a business for the public.
It seems that he was conscious of “serving” to utilize his talent for his hometown.
At the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, the idea of ​​Sonno Joi was booming in other clan.
Political beliefs cannot be seen from the record.
As a scientist, I feel that he thought that this was a living proof of himself.
Did it become a proposition that he would serve as a techno rat publicly?
While the world is confused about what the “public” should be
He focuses on the basic industries of the region and devotes himself to its realization.
The target of the service is the result of loyalty to the clan, which is the existing system.
A business that has become a majority of salt production in Japan due to the vast development of salt fields.
However, from the middle of the process, the funds were cut off due to the tightness of the clan’s finances.
It is said that the business was continued and completed at its own expense in the final stage.
He was very pleased as a feudal lord, but could not fulfill his financial responsibility.
His third photo is a commendation for a project by the feudal lord called “Monument of Sakaide Tsuda”.
~ Sakaide Shioda was completed after more than 3 years and the hard work of Kume Michikata. The feudal lord Matsudaira Yorihiro praised Gong and
In order to make his great achievements immortal, he built a monument in the precincts of the Tenjin shrine in the center of the east and west of the territory and honored it.
The monument was made in Edo, and the text was written by Satoshi Okauchi, and the calligraphy was called the best Clerical script in Japan.
The sculpture was engraved by the master craftsman Hirose Gunkame of Edo at the request of Ichikawa Beian of the Kaga domain.
It has great significance as a starting point for the development of Sakaide City and is valuable as a monument to the Edo period.
Therefore, it was designated as a cultural property of Sakaide City in January 1957. ~
However, it seems to be an honorary reward without any substance.
As a result, Kume Michikata has reached an economic predicament.

Similar traces can be seen in the Edo period ancestors of my family.
The absurd response of the Bakuhan system to publicly devoted economic acts is striking.
As a commoner, there is a side of service, and I don’t think it will be abandoned.
As a regional power, we have no choice but to make the contract antiquated.
In the case of Mr. Kume Michikata, the people have shown respect and there are still houses left,
The appearance of the alcove, which makes you feel emptiness, makes you feel regretful.
He leaned his household goods to serve, but the public disappeared.
It’s a pity that the trace of a person named Kume Michikata remains in the area.

Posted on 3月 28th, 2022 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 日本社会・文化研究, 歴史探訪