Tsuikahô 245-249 : Matters the precinct magistrates shall know

Translated by Christ Bovberg and Kaitlyn Forgash.

Matters the precinct magistrates shall know Item: Regarding failure to maintain roads Item: Regarding houses’ eaves protruding into roads ¹ Item: Regarding building townspeople’s houses and bit by bit narrowing the roads ² Item: Regarding building small houses on top of drainage ditches ³ Item: Regarding failure to perform night watches ⁴ It shall be commanded to the magistrates of the various precincts that the above five matters are prohibited. For those {houses} still standing seven days after this is announced, magistrates shall lead their subordinates and destroy them. By this command, the directive is thus. Kangen 3rd year {1245}, 4th month, 22nd day Governor of Musashi [Hōjō Tsunetoki] ⁵ Lord Former Governor of Sado [Gotō Mototsuna] ⁶

A diagram showing how eave and pillar construction could interfere with city streets.

Original Text 原文

　保司奉行人可存知条々

一　不作道事

一　差出宅檐於路事

一　作町屋漸々狭路事

一　造懸小家於溝上事

一　不夜行事

　右以前五箇条、仰保々奉行人、可被禁制也、且相触之後七ヶ日於立之者、相具保奉

　行人者使者、可被破却之状、依仰執達如件、

　　　寛元三年四月廿二日　　　　　　　　　　　　　武蔵守（北条経時）

　　　　佐渡前司殿（後藤基綱）

Kundoku 訓読 　保司奉行人存知すべき條々 一　道を作らざる事 一　宅の檐のきを路に差出さしだす事 一　町屋を作り漸々ぜんぜん路を狭める事 一　小家を溝みぞの上に造り懸ける事 一　夜行やぎょうせざる事 右、以前五箇條、保々奉行人に仰せ、禁制せらるべき也。且つ相触あいふれる之後七ヶ日之を立つに於いては、保奉行人は使者を相具し、破却はきゃくせらるべき之状、仰せに依り執達しゅうたつ件の如し。 　　寛元三年四月廿二日                                                武蔵守（北条経時ほうじょうつねとき）    　佐渡さど前司殿（後藤基綱ごとうもとつな）



Modern 現代語訳

　保奉行人が知るべきこと

一つ　道を整備しないことについて

一つ　家の檐を道に差し出すことについて

一つ　町屋を作り、道をだんだんに狭くすることについて

一つ　小さい家を溝の上に懸け造ることについて

一つ　夜の警備しないことについて

　上の五つを諸保の奉行人に禁止されるように。また伝えた後七日間違背されている家が立てたら、保奉行人は使節を備え、その家が破壊せらるようにということである。よって、伝えることは、以上のようである。

　　寛元三年四月廿二日        武蔵守　（北条経時）

   　佐渡　前司殿　（後藤基綱）

1. Eaves (noki) would extend over the street, and render an area below them (potentially with the help of a supporting pillar or veranda) as virtually unusable for transportation. ↩

1. Townspeople’s houses (machiya) draws a distinction between the residences of commoners and warriors. At issue here was the encroachment of commoner houses into the street and increasing congestion. ↩

1. As above, this regulation sought to ban the encroachment of private residences into the streets of the city, in this case, the drainage ditches that ran on either side of a road. ↩

1. Night watches were organized by precinct magistrates, though they did not necessarily lead or even participate in them. They were composed of volunteer townspeople. ↩

1. 1224-1246. Grandson of Yasutoki, Tsunetoki succeeded as the fourth regent of the Kamakura bakufu in 1242, but ruled only briefly. He fell ill shortly after this supplementary law was promulgated, and died the following year. ↩

1. 1181-1256. An important houseman (gokenin) of the Kamakura bakufu, he served as Governor of Sado, as royal police (kebiishi), and went on to serve on the Board of Co-Adjudicators (hikitsuke). Nihon kokugo daijiten. ↩

Tsuikahô 203 : Regarding the post of the directors of the various temples within Kamakura

Translated by Matthew Keller and Sachiko Kawai.

Item, regarding the post of the directors ¹ of the various temples within Kamakura [Third year of Ninji, twelfth month, fifth day. Decided in council]
One who has gathered virtue and accumulated merit should be appointed the head temple administrator ² . Yet there are those who arbitrarily claim that because their masters have designated them as successor, ³ they may control a temple as their own—without taking into account ability, nor considering their insufficient experience. ⁴ Not only do they invite the ridicule of the present time, but moreover, does this not certainly fail to fulfill the Buddha's will? From now on, the practice of appointments by designating succession shall completely cease, and {temples} shall proceed by a proper standard {as imposed by Kamakura}.

Original Text

一　鎌倉中諸堂別当職事　〈仁治　三　十二　五評定〉

　右、於寺務職者、以徳闌功積之人、可被撰補之処、不謂器量、不顧若﨟、恣称有師範

　之譲、管領一寺、非啻招当時之哢、甚不可叶仏意歟、於自今以後者、一向停止譲補

　之儀、宜依時儀矣、

Kundoku 訓読 一　鎌倉中の諸堂の別当職の事　〈仁治　三　十二　五評定〉 　右、寺務職においては、徳とく闌たけ功こう積つもるの人を以て、撰び補せらるべきのところ、器量を謂わず、若臈じゃくろうを顧りみず、恣いままに師範の譲ゆずり有りと称し、一寺を管領かんれいす。啻ただに、当時の哢あざけりを招くのみならず、甚はなはだ、仏意に叶うべからざるか。自今じこん以後においては、一向に譲補じょうほの儀を停止ちょうじし、宜しく時儀じぎによるべし。

Modern 現代語

一　鎌倉中の諸堂の別当職の事　〈仁治　三　十二　五評定〉

　右、寺務職においては、徳を多く備えており、寺院のために立派な働きをしている者を選んで、（その職に）任命されるべきであるのに、その才能や人材を考慮に入れず、経験が足りないことも顧りみず、勝手に師匠の譲（ゆずり）が有ると称して、その寺を管理、支配している（場合がある。こういう行為は、）ただ、今現在の（世の中の人々の）嘲りを招いているだけでなく、全く仏のお心にかなわない（望まれていることに反する）のではないだろうか。今後においては、全て、他に譲って任命することを禁止し、その時々の適切な判断に従うように。

1. 別当 bettō — The director, or chief administrator, of a temple or other religious institution. Office (職 shiki) here refers to both the hierarchical position and the authorities of that position. ↩

1. 寺務 jimu — Again, the head administrator of the temple or religious institution. Functionally, this term is identical to bettō in this missive. ↩

1. 譲 yuzuri -- This refers to the common practice of one being appointed as the successor for a post by the post’s previous holder. The claimants referred to in this document may report to hold a written or oral appointment from their master, but--whether these claims are true or false--the bakufu is denying the validity of this process, and asserting their authority as final deciders in the appointment process. ↩

1. “Insufficient experience” is a translation of 若﨟 (jyakurō). 臈 (rō) is used to refer to one’s experience and seniority in a monastic order. Appending the character for “youth” (若) to rō assumedly indicates a lack of time or seniority in the order. ↩

Tsukahô 201 : On Monks Engaging in Brawls

Translated by Lisa Kochinski and Sachiko Kawai

Item: It is said that resident monks of Shōchōjuin ¹ are engaging in brawls, which frequently result in deaths. Even the followers of warriors do not commit such outrages. Why should the followers of monks? This results from the fact that [the monks] are wont to recruit those who are violent and unruly, and they do not restrain them at all. Additionally, there are rumors that samādhi-monks ² do nothing but hold lavish drinking parties and live immoderately. Not only do they break the precepts ³ , they even disobey ordinary law ⁴ . Henceforth, the wearing of long and short swords by monks’ temple servant boys ⁵ , accompanying samurai, middle-ranking servants ⁶ , child servants ⁷ , and tonsured laborers ⁸ shall cease entirely. If anyone disregards this restraining command, and wounds or kills someone, the {offender’s} master should be fined. Each of you should inform {your subordinates} that this should be thoroughly understood and there should be no violations. Accordingly, the directive is thus. Ninji 3 (1242), third month, third day. Former governor of Musashi (Hōjō) Yasutoki Humbly submitted to: Director of the Ministry of Finance ⁹ , Superintendent of Monks Postscript: as in previous ¹⁰

The monks are not brawling in this picture: a snapshot of Kamakura Period circumambulating monks in the Ippen hijiri e (Creative Commons).

Original Text 原文

一　勝長寿院僧房連々有闘乱事、度々及殺害云々、武士之郎従猶以不及如此之狼藉、

　何況僧徒之従類哉、是則好而召仕武勇不調之輩、専不加禁遏之所致也、加之、三昧

　僧等偏好事酒宴、併疎其節之由有風聞、非啻破戒行、剰背尋常之法、自今以後、僧

　徒之児、共侍、中間、童部、力者法師、横雄剱差腰刀、一向可停止之、若猶不拘制

　止、及刄傷殺害者、宜被処主人於過怠、堅存此旨、更不可違犯之由、各可令相触給

　之由所候也、仍執達如件、

　　　仁治三年三月三日　　　　　　　　　　　　　　前武蔵守（北条）泰時

　謹上　大蔵卿僧正御房

　　　追申同前

Kundoku 訓読 一　勝長寿院しょうちょうじゅいん僧房連々闘乱有る事、度々殺害に及ぶと云々。武士の郎從ろうじゅう、猶以て此の如きの狼藉ろうぜきに及ばず。何ぞ況や僧徒の従類じゅうるいにや。是れ則ち好みて武勇ぶゆう不調ふちょうの輩を召仕い、專ら禁遏きんあつを加えざるの所致しょち也。加之しかのみならず、三昧僧等偏ひとえに好みて酒宴を事とし、併あわせて、其の節せつを疎うとむの由、風聞ふうぶん有り。啻にただに破戒行はかいぎょうのみにあらず、剰あまつさへ尋常じんじょうの法に背く。自今以後、僧徒の児、共侍、中間、童部、力者りきしゃ法師、雄剱を横たえ、腰刀を差し、一向之を停止ちょうじするべし。若し猶制止に拘かかずらわらず、刃傷にんじょう・殺害に及ばば、宜しく主人を過怠に処せらるべし。堅く此の旨を存じ、更に違犯すべからざるの由、各、相触れしめ給うべきの由、候う所なり。仍って執達件の如し。 仁治三年三月三日 前武蔵の守（北条）泰時 　謹上　大蔵卿おおくらきょう僧正御房 　　　追申、同前。

1. Shōchōjuin 勝長寿院 (also known as Ōmidō 大御堂 and Minamimidō 南御堂) was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝 (1147–1199) in 1185 as a mortuary temple for his father Minamoto no Yoshitomo 源義朝 (11123–1160). (Nihon kokugo daijiten) ↩

1. Samādhi-monks (sanmai sō 三昧僧) are monks who practice the Lotus Samādhi (hokke sanmai 法華三昧) in a Lotus Hall or the Mindfulness Samādhi (nenbutsu sanmai 念仏三昧) in a Hall of Constant Practice (jōgyōdō 常行堂). DDB. ↩

1. Hakaigyō 破戒行：breaking the precepts ↩

1. These fines were to be administered by the offender’s religious institution and forwarded to the shogunate. ↩

1. Temple servant boys (chigo 児, also 稚児) were young male servants at temples, often chosen for their good looks. ↩

1. Middle-ranking servants (chūgen 中間) represents a status distinction, not a profession. These men held a social position between samurai and komono. ↩

1. Anyone who had had not yet formally come of age was eligible for the position of child servant (warawabe 童部). While mostly children, there were also some adults. ↩

1. Tonsured laborers (rikisha hōshi 力者法師) worked in the service of a religious institution or person, though they were not necessarily ordained themselves. They were distinguished from regular laborers by their shaved heads. Originally litter-bearers, their duties expanded over time; in this instance, they were primarily charged with leading horses. Chusei seiji shakai shiso, p.114. ↩

1. The Superintendent of monks was Ryōshin 良親 (1173–1253). Director of the Ministry of Finance (Ōkura kyō 大蔵卿) is a courtesy title given to the Superintendent of Monks because a relative, most likely his father, held that position. We would suggest that the courtesy title refers specifically to Fujiwara Chikafusa, as an entry for him in Sompi Bunmyaku lists a son named Ryōshin 良親 who entered Ninnaji 仁和寺. ↩

1. Tsuika 200 ordered the melting of confiscated swords for the casting of the Great Buddha image. ↩

Tsuikahô 200 : That the followers of monks in Kamakura shall be forbidden long and short swords

Translated by Sachiko Kawai, Emily Warren, Matthew Keller, and Chris Bovberg

Item: That the followers of monks in Kamakura shall be forbidden long and short swords It is said that the followers of monks regularly engage in brawls which result in many deaths. The followers of warriors do not even commit such outrages. Why should the followers of monks? The reason is that [the monks] are wont to recruit those who are violent and unruly, and do not restrain them at all. Henceforth, the wearing of long and short swords ¹ by the monks’ temple servant boys ² , accompanying samurai, middle-ranking servants ³ , child servants ⁴ , and tonsured laborers ⁵ shall cease entirely. If, disobeying this prohibition, one wounds or kills someone, a fine will be levied on the master ⁶ It is ordered that the attendant monks be informed that this order shall be thoroughly understood and that there shall be no violation. Accordingly, the directive is thus. Ninji 3rd year [1242], 3rd month, 3rd day Former Governor of Musashi [Hōjō Yasutoki] ⁷ [cipher] The Venerable Ōmidō Executor ⁸ The Venerable Wakamiya Director ⁹ The Venerable Director Dharma Bridge ¹⁰ The above was written and issued separately to each of the three ¹¹ Additional Command The Board of Retainers functionaries are commanded that the swords of the people at issue are to be taken on sight and donated to [the casting of] the Great Buddha. Similarly, this order shall be commanded and heard.

A contemporary image of the Great Buddha at Kamakura.

Original Text 原文
一　可被止鎌倉中僧徒従類太刀腰刀等事

　右、僧徒之所従、常致闘乱、多及殺害云々、武士之郎従、猶以不及如此之狼藉、何

　況於僧徒之所従哉、是則好而召仕武勇不調之輩、専不加禁遏之故也、於自今以後者、

　僧徒之児、共侍、中間、童部、力者法師、横雄剱差腰刀、一向可停止之、若背此制

　止、及刄傷殺害者、宜被処主人於過怠、堅存此旨、不可違犯之由、可令相触供僧等

　給之旨所候也、仍執達如件、

　　　仁治三年三月三日　　　　　　　　　　　　　　前武蔵守（北条泰時）在御判

　　　　大御堂執行御房

　　　　若宮別当御房

　　　　大夫法橋御房　以上三ケ所各別書下之

　　　追仰

　件輩剱刀者、仰付小舎人、随見合抜取之、可施入大仏之由、被仰下之、

　同可被仰聞其旨候也、

Kundoku 訓読 一つ 鎌倉中僧徒そうとの従類じゅうるいが太刀たち腰刀こしがたな等を止めらるべきの事 右、僧徒の所従、常に闘乱を致し、多く殺害に及ぶと云々。武士の郎従、猶以て此の如き の狼藉に及ばず。何況なんぞいわんや僧徒の所従に於いておや。是れ則ち、好みて武勇ぶゆう不調ふじょうの輩を召し仕い、専もっぱら禁遏きんあつ加えざる之故也。自今以後に於いては、僧徒の児、共侍、中間、童部、力者りきしゃ法師、雄剱を横たえ、腰刀を差し、一向之を停止するべし。若し此の制止に背そむき、刃傷にんじょう・殺害に及ばば、宜しく主人に過怠を処せらるべし。堅く此の旨を存じ、違犯すべからずの由。供僧ぐそう等に相触れしめ給うべしの旨、候う所なり。仍って執達件の如し。    仁治三年三月三日                                        前武蔵守（泰時）在御判ざいごはん    　大御堂おおみどう執行御房しぎょうごぼう    　若宮別當御房ごぼう    　大夫法橋ほっきょう御房　以上を三ヶ所各別に之を書き下す。追って仰す 件の輩の劔刀けんとうは、小舍人こどねりに仰せ付け、見合いに随い之を拔き取り、大佛に施入せにゅうすべき之由、之を仰せ下さる。同じく其の旨を仰せ聞かさるべき候う也。

Modern 現代語訳

一　鎌倉中の僧徒の従類の太刀や腰刀等を禁止すべき事

　右、僧徒の従者は常に闘乱をいたし、多くは殺害にまで及んでいるということである。武士の郎従でさえ、このような狼藉を行うことはないのに、どうして僧徒の従者がこんなことをするのか（いや、ありえないだろう）。これはつまり、好んで武勇で素行不良[1]の輩を召し仕い、全く禁圧を加えないためである。今後においては、僧徒の稚児、供侍、中間、童部、力者法師が、太刀を帯びたり、腰刀を差したりすることにおいては、すべてこれをやめさせよ／もっぱらこれを禁止せよ。もしこの禁制に背き、刄傷殺害に及べば、主人を罰金刑に処せれるように。しっかりとこのことを遵守して、違犯すべきではないということを、供僧等に伝えられよということである。よって、伝えることは、以上のようである。

　　　仁治三年（１２４２）三月三日　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（ここに）前武蔵守（北条泰時）の花押あり

　　　　大御堂執行（責任者）御房

　　　　若宮別当御房

　　　　大夫（だいぶ）法橋御房　以上三ケ所、それぞれ別にこれを書き下す。

　　　追って命ず。

　上記のような者達（僧徒の従者）の刀剣は、小舎人に命じて、見つけ次第、之を抜き取り、大仏に寄付すべきであるということを、命じ下された。

　同じくその旨を言ってお聞かせになれよ。

1. This document draws a sharp distinction between long and short swords and the method of attachment. Short sword were worn by many commoners, tucked into their pants. Samurai typically preferred long swords, which were worn off the hip. ↩

1. Temple servant boys (chigo) were young male servants at temples, often chosen for their good looks. ↩

1. Middle-ranking servants (chūgen) represents a status distinction, not a profession. These men held a social position between samurai and komono. ↩

1. Anyone who had had not yet formally come of age was eligible for the position of child servant (warawabe 童部). While mostly children, there were also some adults. ↩

1. Tonsured laborers (rikisha hōshi) worked in the service of a religious institution or person, though they were not necessarily ordained themselves. They were distinguished from regular laborers by their shaved heads. Originally litter-bearers, their duties expanded over time; in this instance, they were primarily charged with leading horses. Chusei seiji shakai shiso, p.114. ↩

1. These fines would be administered by the temple, but paid to the Kamakura bakufu. ↩

1. 1183-1242. Eldest son of Hojo Yoshitoki, he succeeded his father as the third regent of the Kamakura bakufu (r.1224-1242). ↩

1. The head of Shōchōju-in, founded by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1184 to memorialize his father, Yoshitomo. ↩

1. Actually the head of Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, the family shrine of the Minamoto. ↩

1. Likely the head of Yōfukuji. “Director” here does not indicate a position, but a nickname likely derived from the position of his father. ↩

1. The three, all founded or relocated by Minamoto Yoritomo, represented the largest and most important religious institutions in Kamakura at the time. ↩

Tsuikahô 122-129 : Matters magistrate of the precinct in Kamakura shall know about

Translated by Kaitlin Forgash, Chris Bovberg, and Dan Sherer.

Sumo wrestlers in a match depicted on a mural at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

In Kamakura the various magistrates should know these matters: Item: Regarding thieves Item: Regarding travelers Item: Regarding abductions of women off the streets ¹ Item: Regarding evil bands ² Item: Regarding the commoners’ trade in the streets and intersections ³ Item: Regarding making the alleys narrow [with new construction] Item: Regarding blind lute-playing monks ⁴ and also amateur wrestlers on the streets ⁵ Item: Regarding coerced sales ⁶ The magistrates should know the above mentioned passages and strictly guard their various precincts. There should be absolutely no negligence. So ordered by command of the Shogun. En’ō 2 (1240), second month, second day Former Governor of Musashi (Hōjō Yasutoki) ⁷

Original Text 原文　

鎌倉中保々奉行可存知条々

一　盗人事

一　旅人事

一　辻捕事

一　悪党事

一　下々辻々売買事

一　成小路狭事

一　辻々盲法師并辻相樸事

一　押買事

　右条々、存知此旨、可令警固奉行保々也、更不可有緩怠之状、依仰下知如件、

　　　延応二年二月二日

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　前武蔵守（北条泰時）

Kundoku 訓読 鎌倉中保々奉行存知ぞんちすべき條々 一　盗人の事 一　旅人の事 一　辻捕つじとりの事 一　悪党の事 一　下々しもじも辻々つじつじ賣買の事 一　小路こうじを狹めせばめ成す事 一　辻々盲法師めくらほうし並びに辻相樸つじずもうの事 一　押買おしかいの事 右の條々、此の旨を存知し、奉行の保々を警固せしむべき也。更に緩怠有るべからず之状、仰せに依り下知件の如し。 　　延応二年二月二日前武蔵守（北条泰時）

Modern 現代語

鎌倉中諸保の奉行人が知るべきこと

一　泥棒の事

一　旅行者の事

一　女性の誘拐の事

一　悪者の集団の事

一　庶民が道の交差点で売買する事

一　道を狭くする事

一　琵琶法師と交差点での相樸の事

一　無理やりで低い値段で物を買う事。

右のことについて、、奉行人が知るべく、それぞれの保を警戒するように。決して怠けてはならない。将軍のお言葉により命令するところ以上である。

延応二年　(1240)二月二日

前の武蔵守（北条泰時）

1. 辻捕（つじとり）tsuji dori means to capture women off of the streets and make them your wife, and so forth. Nihon kokugo daijiten. ↩

1. Literally “evil bands,” the term can be used for individuals or groups. The defining characteristic was opposition to authority, be that provincial governors, estate proprietors, or the Kamakura bakufu. See Morten Oxenbell, "Images of Akutō." Monumenta Nipponica 60.2 (2005), pp. 235-62 and Lorraine F. Harrington, "Social Control and the Significance of Akuto," in Mass, ed., Court and Bakufu in Japan. ↩

1. Intersections served as plazas for entertainment, commerce, social gathering, etc. ↩

1. 盲法師（めくらほうし）mekura hōshi are blind, often itinerant, lute-playing monks. Nihon kokugo daijiten. They are famous for performing the Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike). ↩

1. 辻相樸（つじずもう) tsuji zumō was sumo wrestling performed by amateurs on an ad-hoc basis in town centers and plazas. Nihon kokugo daijiten. ↩

1. 押買（おしかい）oshikai, meaning using force or threat of force towards a merchant in order to obtain a reduced price on goods. ↩

1. 1183-1242. Eldest son of Hōjō Yoshitoki, he succeeded his father as the third regent of the Kamakura bakufu (r.1224-1242). ↩