$Unique_ID{how00626}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Civilizations Past And Present
Document: Two Taika Reform Edicts}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Wallbank;Taylor;Bailkey;Jewsbury;Lewis;Hackett}
$Affiliation{}
$Subject{let
chieftains
districts
township

}
$Date{1992}
$Log{}
Title:       Civilizations Past And Present
Book:        Chapter 8:  The Rising Flood Of Asian Culture, 300-1300
Author:      Wallbank;Taylor;Bailkey;Jewsbury;Lewis;Hackett
Date:        1992

Document: Two Taika Reform Edicts

The reforms came in a series of decrees in 645 and 646. This section covers
local administration.

     2nd year [646], Spring, 1st month, 1st day. As soon as the ceremonies
     of the new year's congratulations were over, the Emperor promulgated
     an edict of reform, as follows:

          "I. Let the people establish by the ancient Emperors, etc., as
     representatives of children be abolished, also the Miyake of various
     places and the people owned as serfs by the Wake, the Imperial
     Chieftains, the Deity Chieftains, Court Chieftains, Local Chieftains
     and the Village Headmen. Let the farmsteads in various places be
     abolished." Consequently fiefs were granted for their sustenance to
     those of the rank of Daibu and upwards on a descending scale. Presents
     of cloth and silk stuffs were given to the officials and people, varying
     in value.

          "Further We say. It is the business of the Daibu to govern the
     people. If they discharge this duty thoroughly, the people have trust
     in them, and an increase of their revenue is therefore for the good of
     the people."

          "II. The capital is for the first time to be regulated, and
     Governors appointed for the Home provinces and districts. Let barriers,
     outposts, guards, and post-horses, both special and ordinary, be
     provided, bell-tokens made, and mountains and rivers regulated."

          "For each ward in the capital let there be appointed one alderman,
     and for four wards one chief alderman, who shall be charged with the
     superintendence of the population, and the examination of criminal
     matters. For appointment as chief alderman of wards let men be taken
     belonging to the wards, of unblemished character, firm and upright, so
     that they may fitly sustain the duties of the time. For appointment as
     aldermen, whether of rural townships or of city wards, let ordinary
     subjects be taken belonging to the township or ward, of good character
     and solid capacity. If such men are not to be found in the township or
     ward in question, it is permitted to select and employ men of the
     adjoining township or ward."

          "The Home provinces shall include the region from the River Yokogawa
     at Nabari on the east, from Mount Senoyama in Kii on the south, from
     Kushibuchi in Akashi on the west, and from Mount Afusakayama in Sasanami
     in Afumi on the north. Districts of forty townships are constituted
     Greater Districts, of from thirty to four townships are constituted
     Middle Districts, and of three or fewer townships are constituted
     Lesser Districts. For the district authorities, of whatever class, let
     there be taken Local Chieftains of unblemished character, such as may
     fitly sustain the duties of the time, and made Tairei and Shorei. Let
     men of solid capacity and intelligence who are skilled in writing and
     arithmetic be appointed assistants and clerks .... "

          "III. Let there now be provided for the first time registers of
     population, books of account and a system of the receipt and regranting
     of distribution-land."

          "Let every fifty houses be reckoned a township, and in every
     township let there be one alderman who shall be charged with the
     superintendence of the population, the direction of the sowing of crops
     and the cultivation of mulberry trees, the prevention and examination
     of offenses, and the enforcement of the payment of taxes and of forced
     labor."

          "For rice-land, thirty paces in length by twelve paces in breadth
     shall be reckoned a tan. Ten tan make one cho. For each tan the tax is
     two sheaves and two bundles [such as can be grasped in the hand] of
     rice; for each cho the tax is twenty-two sheaves of rice. On mountains
     or in valleys where the land is precipitous, or in remote places where
     the population is scanty, such arrangements are to be made as may be
     convenient."

From Sources of the Japanese Tradition, compiled by Ryusaku Tsunoda,
William T. de Bary, and Donald Keene, 2 vols. (New York: Columbia University
Press, 1964), Vol. 1, pp. 70-72.