A Study of Hyakusho Ikki (peasant uprising) and "Gimin"(people who rose uprisings) in the domain of HIrosaki : A dispute about moutains and forests during the Bunka era

The purpose of this article is to reconsider peasant uprisings which occurred in the domain of Hirosaki during the Bunka era. Previous studies of these peasant movements mainly have focused on “Tamijiro Ikki” and “Gimin; FUJITA Tamijiro”. It has been thought that these peasant movements were caused by the burden of the guard of Ezo. However, peasants in the domain of Hirosaki rose uprisings caused by dispute about mountains and forests during the Bunka era, and “Gimin; Denbe of Harada village” appeared from these peasant uprisings. Therefore, in this article, these uprisings and “Gimin”are considered individually. Some peasant uprisings and riots which occurred in the domain of Hirosaki during the Bunka era, especially the ones occurred in Nyui village and Yakushido village in 1808, 1809 and 1812, caused by the mountain border dispute. They tried to fulfill their own request in each united body. In these cases, it can be said that peasant acted based on the spirits of “Itto” - uniting to satisfy one demand. It is said that they united because they had the problem how to sort the land of the mountain, not because they were suffered from the burden of the guard of Ezo. The peasant groups of Owani, Ozaki, Daikoji has united with “Kaibun” - a written order or declaration to incite the action of people-and attacked the mountain officer and the magistrate’s office in 1811. This riot is called “居土山柴草刈取事件 ”. It is thought that this case occurred because peasant became indignant that the government refused their claim. Peasant made a demand on the government for “Akeyama” - the government mountain which peasant could get the tree or something for their daily life fro. It is difficult to consider that the riot was caused by the burden of the guard of Ezo. From this riot, it can be seen that “Denbe of Harada village” were profoundly honored as Gimin. In the actual riot, Denbe were not sentenced to death like being beheaded, and also his actions in this riot are not talked about by the following generation as the legend or heroic tale. After the riot, peasant got the right to enter the government mountain which they had demanded as “Akeyama”.Nor was this all, peasant were still permitted to enter the mountain after the end of Edo period, without the mountain being nationalized. In order to pass these achievements to posterity, Denbe has been honored as Gimin. In these peasant movements in the domain of Hirosaki during Bunka era, they fought for the use of the mountains or gathered together to form a party in each village unit. We can see the importance of the mountains and forest for peasants who rose uprisings and riots from the honor of Gimin.Thus when we consider peasant uprisings which occurred in the domain of Hirosaki during the Bunka era, we have to take account of not only the view of the burden of the guard of Ezo, but also the use of the mountain for peasants