Chapter from the book: Tanimoto M. & Wong R. 2019. Public Goods Provision in the Early Modern Economy: Comparative Perspectives from Japan, China, and Europe.
This chapter, by Kenichiro Aratake, explores the details of public finance of domains by focusing on the actual role played by rulers. Investigating the data derived from several individual domains, including Hiroshima, Okayama, and Sendai, the chapter looks into the composition of the administrative organization run by the lords’ vassal band. The chapter also observes and evaluates the actual workings of the individual vassals in terms of governing ability by investigating primary sources, such as a work journal of county magistrate. Based on these observations, the chapter emphasizes the limited role of lords and vassals in administering villages and providing public goods for regional society.
Aratake, K. 2019. Samurai and Peasants in the Civil Administration of Early Modern Japan. In: Tanimoto M. & Wong R (eds.), Public Goods Provision in the Early Modern Economy. California: University of California Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/luminos.63.c
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Published on Jan. 15, 2019