Edo period village

Edo period village

During the Edo period of Japanese history, villages (村 mura?) were self-governing administrative units, led by the village headman (庄屋 shōya?). Villages were taxed as a unit, with the village headman responsible for taxation. Taxes were paid in rice, often 40 to 50% of the harvest. Criminal punishments could also be imposed on the village as a unit.

Before the Edo period, samurai administered the villages, but during the sword hunt they were put to a choice: give up their sword and status and remain on the land as a peasant, or live in a castle town (城下町 jōkamachi?) as a paid retainer of the local daimyo (lord).

Villages were also manufacturing units: In western Japan, cottage industries developed, with each family of the village taking over one step of the production process.


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