Title:
Notice of reward, dated 1682
Language: Japanese.
Imprint: Edo government, 1682.
Form: Wooden Board
Technique: brush calligraphy
Appearance: black ink (as the
wood wears out faster in the places without ink, now the characters
look like carved out)
Note: The system of reward for the accusers was a strong way to persecute the Christian Missionaries and believers. Starting from the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-8), this method spread all over the country, increasing the amount of money offered as the persecution got tighter. It continued till the end of the Edo regime. This edict board was mounted on a post in 1682. The article about the accuser againt the Tachikaerimono (Returners to the Christian faith) seems to be added from this edict on. Speaking about the amount of money of the reward: for a long time, one silver unit was the equivalent to 43 momme. Let us compare it with the rice price in those days. Eight years ago in 1674, one koku (150 kg or approximately five bushels) of rice was worth sixty momme. So, if someone accused a Priest, he would be given a reward of 21,500 momme, about 358 koku (53,750 kg). Even from the present standard of judgement, we can see it was a very high prize money. The text of this edict board is given below. There are established by law. The Christian faith has been prohibited for a long time. If you catch a suspicious person, you should send notice to the authorities. As a reward, we offer 500 silver coins for the accuser against a Bateren (a corrupt word of Padre in Portuguese: Priest), 300 silver coins for the accuser against a Iruman (a corrupt word of Irmão in Portuguese: Religious Brother), the same amount: 300 silver coins for the accuser against a Tachikaerimono (Returner), 100 silver coins for the accuser against a Dojuku (acolyte or catechist) or a Christian. We issue orders as mentioned. Even if the accuser is a Dojuku or a Christian, he (or she) will receive the 500 silver coins according to the one accused. If the fact that you had hidden a Bateren, Iruman, etc. is revealed, the Nanushi (village headman) of your village, the Goningumi (five-family groups for the purposes of mutual assistance and responsibility) and your relatives, indeed your whole clan will be punished. Everyone should obey. The fifth lunar month of the second of the Tenna Era (1682) |