The empirical study of the decision-making structure in Japan's early modern period through a comprehensive analysis of the valuable collection of documents related to the Kumamoto Domain

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01310
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Imamura Naoki 熊本大学, 永青文庫研究センター, 准教授 (50570727)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 久留島 浩 国立歴史民俗博物館, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 特任教授 (30161772) ; 稲葉 継陽 熊本大学, 永青文庫研究センター, 教授 (30332860) ; 三澤 純 熊本大学, 大学院人文社会科学研究部(文), 准教授 (80304385)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 日本近世史研究 / 意思決定構造 / 惣庄屋（大庄屋） / 比較藩研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we proceeded with the creation of a catalog of the Oshoya documents (Kogawa family documents) of the Kumamoto Domain, which were rescued after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, and comprehensively analyzed the "Collection of Kumamoto Domain-related valuable materials" stored at Kumamoto University. As a result, a catalog of approximately 7,000 Kogawa family documents was created. Furthermore, the insights obtained from the analysis were disseminated to the academic and social communities through publications such as "Regional Fiscal Administration in the Early Modern Period and the Meiji Restoration" and "Eisei Bunko Series," as well as through symposiums such as "Territorial Communities of Roads and Rivers," lectures, and exhibitions.

Free Research Field

日本近世史・近代史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、大名家文書から庄屋文書にまで至る「熊本藩関係貴重資料群」の総合的分析により、百姓身分を含む社会諸階層が関与した熊本藩政・地域行政の意思決定構造の全容を明らかにし、他藩や幕府領の事例と比較検討することで、その意義を日本近世社会論の中に位置づけた点にある。また社会的意義は、熊本地震で被災した大規模古文書群を保全・整理し、近い将来、研究者や市民の活用に供する前提条件を整えた点にある。