Kasuke: Leader Of The 1686 Peasant Uprising, Selfless In Sacrifice
The history of samurai is fascinating. I described some of the samurai history in my blog [1-4]. However, history of Japan is not solely the history of samurai. Samurai made up only a small portion of the population. I always wanted to explore the history of people other than samurai.
In the summer of 2024, I had an opportunity to visit Gimin History Museum of Azumino, Nagano Prefecture. Their exhibits consist of the 1686 peasant uprising in the Tokugawa period (1603-1868).
Fig. Azumino, Nagano Prefecture.
Source: google earth, modified by the author
Fig. Present day Azumino overlooking the North Japan Alps, known for its natural beauty. It is popular among mountain climbers.
I have long romanticized the Tokugawa period (1603-1868), envisioning it as an era of peace where people enjoyed life, leading to the flourishing of the rich culture we associate with Japan today. Naturally, it wasn’t all positive. There were negative aspects as well. For example, the 3,200 peasant uprisings [5] that are recorded are evidence that the peasants were forced to endure harsh living conditions. The Kasuke uprising was one of such events which was well documented. I believe that Japanese people generally do not engage in uprisings unless there is a significant reason, and peasants in the Tokugawa period were no exception. This was especially true for Tokugawa period peasants, as
the punishment for such actions was often capital.
Uprisings are not well-documented, as domains were reluctant to record such events. The Kasuke uprising was one of the few exceptions to this trend.
Among the 260-280 domains of the Tokugawa period, the Matsumoto domain, notable for the Kasuke uprising, was of moderate size. In the 17th century CE, Mizuno Tadanao, the daimyo (domain lord), indulged in various leisure activities such as visiting temples and shrines, hunting for matsutake mushrooms, river fishing, participating in festivals, and enjoying Noh and Kyogen performances. While there is nothing inherently wrong with a daimyo engaging in these pursuits, it is crucial that governance remains his foremost priority.
Despite fostering cultural and social development in Matsumoto, akin to Edo and Kyoto, the domain faced significant financial difficulties. One contributing factor was the excessive number of bureaucratic samurai with high salaries. As samurai were unable to produce commodities, the financial burden fell heavily on the peasants. It should be noted that there were 270-280 domains and the Tokugawa period lasted 270 years such that there were 2-3 thousand daimyo. Mizuno Tadanao might not had been particularly incompetent. There were only a handful of able daimyo over the 270 years. I described Uesugi Yozan in one of my blog posts [6]. He was truly a respectable daimyo.
Back story of the 1686 uprising. [7]
a. There was a major famine prior to this uprising: the Empo famine of 1674-1675. This was due to climate irregularity throughout Japan. The northern Japan was hit in a sever manner. Of the 100000 peasants in Matsumoto domain, 4000 died.
b. The incident was sparked by opposition from peasants to an increase in their Nengu, the tax burden, which they believed was unfair compared to neighboring domains. Early in the Tokugawa period, the tax rate was generally 50%. In the 1630’s Matsumoto domain tax was 60% which was already higher than its neighboring domains.
c. To make things worse, in 1686, the domain government told peasants of a further increase to 70%. People including Kasuke, a former shoya (village headman) among others asked the tax collecting clerk why. The response of the clerk was to hit Kasuke. Many peasants came to the scene showing that they were angry. The clerk felt unusual tension and went back to the castle.
d. Kasuke and others gathered at Kumano shrine and decided to go for ikki (peasant uprising).
Fig. Rice
bales. A bale contains 1-hyo which is 60kg. Rice was the currency.
There are two additional stories.
When the Kasuke incident occurred, Daimyo Mizuno Tadanao was in Edo (Tokyo), the capital, to fulfil his duty of Sankin Kotai. Sankin Kotai is one of the rules of the Tokugawa shogunate to the effect that every daimyo must stay in Edo every other year. He didn’t know of the Kasuke incident.
I am highly critical about the way Tadanao governed the domain. First the tax. Why the tax was higher than the majority of the domains in the first place? The 70 % sounds insane. Second, Why the important decision was made without daimyo?
This incident had an impact on the subsequent Jiyu Minken Undo (Movement for Civil Rights and Liberties) [8] of the Meiji period, in the 19th century CE. In the 20th century CE, this story was performed in Kabuki.
Conclusion:
The fundamental principles of the samurai include honor, loyalty, courage, self-discipline, and kindness, and many of these are documented. However, the actions of people outside the samurai class are not always recorded, but these principles were not exclusive to samurai. Kasuke, featured in this blog, was a peasant, but his courageous behavior was far more dignified than that of the daimyo of Matsumoto Domain where he lived.
Additional notes:
Fig. Kasuke’s katana. The fact that he owned katana means he was a rich peasant.
Kasuke being a former shoya, could have been rich. Rich peasants were allowed to carry katata as showcased by Fig. Kasuke’s katana. Peasants, generally were not allowed to carry their family names. Rich peasants, however, were often allowed to carry family names. Kasuke's full name was Tada Kasuke. He himself could have survived the 70% tax, however, he did something he believed right by sacrificing his and his family's lives.
A rich farmer was often a descendant of a fallen samurai family in the Sengoku (warring state) period. Kasuke could have been one of those. The hardest thing for him, I believe, was that his sons and wife were executed also.
It is remarkable that this relatively unknown peasant uprising, which occurred over 300 years ago, has come to the attention of a non-specialist like myself. This incident highlights the harsh conditions faced by peasants and their willingness to resist oppressive policies by staking their lives.
[1] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/09/luis-frois-first-westerners-description.html
[2] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/09/nobunaga-was-not-always-ruthless.html
[3] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/06/book-review-spear-of-lucky-fellow-by.html
[4] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-1778-letter-from-elderly-farmer-woman.html
[5] https://adeac.jp/konan-lib/text-list/d100010/ht040890
[6] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-1778-letter-from-elderly-farmer-woman.html
[7] Azumino Education Committee, “Jokyo Sodo wo Tazunete”, (Quest for Jokyo Uprising), Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, Third Printing, 2019
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_and_People%27s_Rights_Movement
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