【学術的豆知識】「米価安の諸色高」というジレンマ
江戸時代の武士や幕府・藩を悩ませた経済問題の一つに、「米価安の諸色高（べいかやすのしょしきだか）」という現象がある。これは、主食である米の価格は比較的安いのに、他の様々な商品（諸色）の価格が高い状態を指す。武士の俸禄は米で計算されるため、米価が安いと実質的な収入が減る。その一方で、生活に必要な様々な物資は現金で購入するため、諸色高は支出の増大を意味した。この「収入減・支出増」のダブルパンチが、武士階級の困窮を深刻化させた大きな要因だったんだ。幕府や藩は、米価を安定させようと様々な政策（米の買い上げや放出など）を試みたが、全国的な商品流通網が発達する中で、米価のコントロールは非常に難しかった。
(Click to listen) One of the economic problems that plagued samurai, the Shogunate, and domains during the Edo period was the phenomenon known as "beika yasu no shoshiki daka" (low rice prices and high prices for other goods). This refers to a situation where the price of rice, the staple food, was relatively low, while the prices of various other commodities (shoshiki) were high. Since samurai stipends were calculated in rice, low rice prices meant a decrease in their real income. On the other hand, since various daily necessities had to be purchased with cash, high prices for other goods meant increased expenditures. This double punch of "decreased income and increased expenditure" was a major factor that exacerbated the impoverishment of the samurai class. The Shogunate and domains attempted various policies to stabilize rice prices (such as buying up or releasing rice), but controlling rice prices became very difficult as a nationwide commodity distribution network developed.
This Page's Summary in English (Click to expand and listen to paragraphs)
This page examines the monetary system and the fiscal challenges faced by the Shogunate (Bakufu) and domains (Han) during the Edo period. The complex monetary system and chronic financial difficulties significantly shaped economic policies and societal structures.
The Edo period utilized a tri-metallic currency system: gold coins (kinka, e.g., koban, mainly in eastern Japan, as accounting currency), silver coins (ginka, e.g., chōgin, mainly in western Japan, as currency by weight), and copper/iron coins (zenika, e.g., Kan'ei Tsūhō, for small daily transactions nationwide). The exchange rates between gold and silver fluctuated, necessitating money changers (ryōgaeshō) who also provided banking services like deposits, loans, and bills of exchange.
The Shogunate's finances relied on land tax (nengu) from its direct territories (tenryō), mining revenues (which declined over time), and levies on merchants (unjōkin, myōgakin). Expenditures included stipends for retainers, administrative costs, public works, and disaster relief. Chronic deficits arose from stagnant revenues and increasing expenditures, compounded by disasters and the samurai class's financial difficulties due to the monetized economy and fluctuating rice prices.
Shogunal fiscal reconstruction measures included austerity edicts (ken'yakurei), land reclamation, and currency debasements (kahei kaichū). Debasement provided temporary revenue through seigniorage (deme) but often caused inflation and economic instability. Domains also faced severe financial problems due to expenses like Sankin Kōtai and shogunal levies. Their countermeasures included issuing domainal paper money (hansatsu), establishing domainal monopolies (senbai-sei) on local products, reducing samurai stipends, and borrowing from wealthy merchants. Some domains (e.g., Satsuma, Chōshū) successfully reformed their finances, which contributed to their rise in the Bakumatsu period.
The rozwój of a monetized economy had profound social impacts, including the economic decline of the samurai, increased social stratification in rural areas, and the growing economic and social influence of the merchant class.
江戸時代のお金と財政の複雑な事情、そして幕府や藩の苦労が見えてきたかな？
次は、こうした経済状況の中で生まれた様々な「経済思想」と、それに基づく「経済政策」について見ていこう。