近世百姓印章の一考察 : 形態変化を中心にして
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概要
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Previously there have been no paleographical studies of seals in the Edo period. This paper attempts to bridge the gaps by examining changes in the form of peasants' seals in the Edo period, and at the same time aims at determining approximate dates of undated documents and looking into the cause of the changes in form and style. The first use of seals by peasants was in the eastern region of Japan (Togoku) at the end of the Warring States (Sengoku) period. However, they were only used by a small number of peasants at that time. Peasants generally began to use seals only after the 1620's. This was largely due to the required registration of the peasants into five-family-group (Gonin-gumi-cho), a policy carried out by feudal lords who wanted to strengthen their control over the peasant class. At that time seals were used mainly to make a distinction between families, but they were only used temporarily and were not passed on within the family. Sizes of the seal faces varied greatly, and patterns drawn in straight line forming negative images were common. Presumably, such seals were made by the peasants themselves. From the 1660's, single characters such as tomi (富) and fuku (福) were used in seals. Such characters were selected by peasants in the hope of bringing prosperity or good fortune to their family. It was from this period that special ink for seals, rather than ordinary writing ink, came into use. Looking at the nature of the finished, products, it seems that from this time seals were made by specialized craftsmen. Furthermore, it is possible to ascertain the form and use of seals by peasants from this period. From the 1730's personal name seals came into use. Thus, rather than representing a family, a seal came to represent an individual. At this time, personal names were carved vertically from top to bottom, while from about 1800 they were carved horizontally from right to left. The diameter of seals in the Edo period increased from 1.49cm in the early 1700's to 1.69cm in the 1860's. With the passage of time, carving skills became more elaborate and a wide variety of styles came into use. Seals served as status symbols during the Edo period. Peoples of a high social rank and wealthy peasants used fashionable seals with broad diameters and different styles of script. This quality, however, becomes less prevalent in peasants' seals from the early 1800's.
- 財団法人史学会の論文
- 1980-07-20