Uesugi Yozan: A Daimyo Who Helped A Peasant Rice Harvest, 1778

In 1778, Uesugi Yozan, the daimyo of Yonezawa domain, assisted a female peasant with rice harvest. This act was rare, as daimyo typically did not even talk with peasants. The incident occurred when he was 27 years old, much earlier than depicted in the figure below. Yozan was one of the most respected daimyo of the Tokugawa period mainly for his significant economic reforms, effective governance and his personality. Yonezawa domain was one of the poorest domains when he arrived, whereas it rose to one of the richest when he passed away. Below,  I will delve into what happened to the peasant woman.

 

 

Fig. Uesugi Yozan

This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art.

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E4%B8%8A%E6%9D%89%E9%B7%B9%E5%B1%B1.jpg

 

During my visit to Yonezawa (see Fig. Yonezawa), I encountered fascinating artifacts  including a letter penned by the peasant woman and a pair of “tabi” socks. 

 

 

 

 

Fig. Yonezawa

source: Google Earth modified by the author

Fig. Yonezawa castle

Description   
English: Yonezawa Castle Moat of Yonezawa Castle, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan
日本語: 米沢城 米沢城の堀。
Date    29 November 2007 (original upload date)
Source    Own work by the original uploader (Original text: 投稿者本人が撮影)
Author    Satoshin at Japanese Wikipedia

Fig. 21th Century Yonezawa

Date 6 May 2021, 11:41

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yonezawa_City_hall_DSC_0040.jpg

Author   DR17 Sagittarius Runaway

 

 

Fig. A letter and  “tabi” socks.

Description 老婆の手紙と足袋

（米沢市宮坂考古館所蔵品/画像管理㈱川島印刷）

Date 30 June 2012

Source 米沢市宮坂考古館

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E8%80%81%E5%A9%86%E3%81%AE%E6%89%8B%E7%B4%99%E3%81%A8%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B.jpg

 

In Fig. A letter and “tabi” socks, the bottom left corner showcases tiny tabi socks crafted for a baby, made from delicate silk that has retained its brilliance even after 270 years.

 At the top, we find a letter dated An-ei 7 (1778 CE), written mainly in katakana by Hideyo—an elderly peasant woman from the Tokugawa period. She resided in the village of Tohyama, situated in the western outskirts of Yonezawa. (see Fig. Yonezawa) The recipient of this heartfelt letter was her daughter-in-law, Okano: (translation by the author)

"I trust this letter finds you in good health. As for myself, I am well.

Recently, while harvesting rice, we sensed an impending rainstorm. Two passing samurai kindly assisted us with the harvest. In gratitude for their help, we offered them mochi (rice cakes) as a token of appreciation. Curious about where to deliver the mochi later, I inquired with the samurai. They directed us to the Northern gate of the lord’s residence (Yonezawa Castle), where arrangements would be made. To our astonishment, one of the samurai turned out to be none other than the daimyo himself. Overwhelmed and humbled, we received not only praise for our hard work but also five silver coins. In gratitude, we have decided to gift specially crafted tabi socks to our family and grandchildren. Please safeguard them carefully.

December 6.

Tobei and I will share further details when we meet in the New Year."

(Note by the author: Tobei refers to Hideyo’s husband.)

The samurai was  the 27 year old  Uesugi Yozan (1751 – 1822). My prediction of Yozan’s motivation of talking with the peasants was to check the quality and the quantity of rice of the year. It should be noted that rice was not only the primary staple but also served as a form of currency. 

Isabella Bird’s Observation

The British travel writer Isabella Bird (1831 – 1904) visited Japan in 1878, half a century after Yozan. In her travelogue, she wrote about Yonezawa [1]:

“The plain of Yonezawa, with the prosperous town in the south and the frequented watering-place of Akayu in the north, resembles a perfect garden of Eden. It is as if the land were tilled with a pencil instead of a plough. Here, rice, cotton, maize, tobacco, hemp, indigo, beans, eggplants, walnuts, melons, cucumbers, persimmons, apricots, and pomegranates grow in rich profusion. This smiling and plenteous land, an Asiatic Arcadia, thrives independently. Its bounteous acres belong to those who cultivate them, living freely under their vines, figs, and pomegranates, unburdened by oppression—a remarkable spectacle under an Asiatic despotism.”

Her vivid description appears to align with Yozan’s reforms.

Regarding the Hideyo letter and the tabi socks, during my visit to Yonezawa, I inquired with the museum attendant about their discovery. She informed me that in the 1950s, a peasant in the Tohyama area renovated his house, and these items emerged from a storage room. To verify their authenticity, the peasant sought the expertise of an appraiser.

It should be noted that the letter was by a peasant woman, not a samurai woman, written mostly in katakana, remains readable even for modern readers, providing insight into literacy rates and calligraphy styles of the time.

[1] Bird, I., “Urban Tracks in Japan,” JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, London, 1911