A Study on the Special Litigation Procedure of the Muromachi Shogunate in the Nanbokucho Period

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13107
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Ryukoku University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO koji 龍谷大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 研究員 (50892832)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 室町幕府 / 訴訟 / 引付方 / 下知状 / 特別訴訟手続

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study is a research on the special litigation procedure (a proceeding to have the petitioner take possession of the disputed land by omitting the statement of case) in the litigation system of the Muromachi Shogunate during the Nanbokucho period.The paper analyzes the delivery of the land and the statement of case in litigation proceedings, and points out that orders to answer or appear against the accused were sometimes transmitted without documents, and that after the Kanno Disturbance, the Gohan Mikyojo（Document signed by the General himself） was used as a judgment document instead of the Gechijo (Documents delivering orders). The study also discussed the continuity of litigation through the statement of case throughout the Nanbokucho period, and the flexibility of litigation proceedings.

Free Research Field

人文学・日本中世史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

特別訴訟手続は室町幕府訴訟制度のなかで注目されてきた論点であった。本研究では特別訴訟手続について再考の余地が大きく残されていることを確認した上で、訴訟制度の全体から特別訴訟手続の位置づけを論じるともに、下知状が発給されなくなった後の訴訟のあり方や、南北朝期における裁判意識のあり方を提示した。本研究は通説に再考を迫るものであり、新たな訴訟像の一端を示すものとなった。