Tsuikahô 394: On gambling

Translated by Emily Warren

{A similar law was issued in the era of }En’ō. Motomasa ¹ and Kōren ² {served as magistrates} Item: Concerning the prohibition on gambling: Groups of thieves and arsonists have been emerging in great numbers. Because of this, there have been numerous strict prohibitions {against gambling}. But apparently there are still those who violate these laws. Precinct magistrates, military governors and stewards are ordered to enforce this once again. However, Go and shōgi are exempt from this ban. ³

A 17th century image of a sugoroku board. (Creative Commons)

Original Text

一　〈延応、基政、光蓮〉可停止博奕事

　盗賊放火之族、多以出来、因茲度々禁制殊以厳重也、而猶有違犯之輩云々、仰保奉

　行人并国々守護地頭等、重可被加禁遏、但囲碁象碁者、非制限矣、

　（中略）

Kundoku 訓読

〈延応えんおう、基政もとまさ、光蓮こうれん〉　 一、博奕ばくえきを停止ちょうじすべき事 盗賊とうぞく放火ほうかの族やから、多くもって出来しゅったいす。茲ここに因り、度々たびたびの禁制きんせい殊にもって厳重げんじゅうなり。而しかるになお違犯の輩ありと云々、保奉行人ならびに国々の守護・地頭等に仰せ、重ねて禁遏きんあつを加えられるべし。但ただし囲碁いご・象碁しょうぎは、制限せいげんにあらず、

Modern 現代語

〈延応、後藤基政、小野沢光蓮〉

一つ　博打を禁止すべきことについて

盗人・放火の集団が多く出没している。そのため、何度も禁制が出され、特に厳しく禁じられてきた。しかし、まだ違反者がいるという。保奉行人と諸国の守護や地頭に命じて、さらに禁止を行うべきだ。ただし囲碁と将棋は制限に含まれていない。

1. Gotō Motomasa(1214-1267) was a shogunal commander and the eldest son of Gotō Mototsuna. ↩

1. Onozawa Nakazane (仲実). Priestly name Kōren (光蓮). His name appears frequently in Kamakura documents as the responsible magistrate. The Onozawa family served as personal followers (被官) of the Hojo tokuso (main line). Chūsei seiji shakai shisō, p.112. ↩

1. Go and shōgi were played by people of higher status and had better reputations. ↩