Changes

Though a relatively large domain in total land area, much of this area is quite mountainous, and thus not suitable for rice cultivation; in addition to fishing and other maritime activities, much of the domain's basic agricultural production consisted of the growing of wheat, millet, beans and the like. [[Tea]], lumber, and paper also became prominent domainal exports in the Edo period.

Though a relatively large domain in total land area, much of this area is quite mountainous, and thus not suitable for rice cultivation; in addition to fishing and other maritime activities, much of the domain's basic agricultural production consisted of the growing of wheat, millet, beans and the like. [[Tea]], lumber, and paper also became prominent domainal exports in the Edo period.

The domain's [[castle town]] capital was at Kôchi, located roughly midway along the domain's coast. The city boasted a population of roughly 200,000 consistently throughout the period, while the population of the domain as a whole roughly doubled over the course of the period, from just under 275,000 according to a 1665 census, to over 500,000 in 1870 records. The most dramatic growth came in the late 17th century, with much of the 18th century seeing relative stagnation in demographic growth, due to recurrent famine, among other factors.<ref>Roberts, ''Mercantilism'', 60-61.</ref> At the end of the 18th century, there are believed to have been around 700 samurai households amongst the domain's population, and another 800 ''[[goshi|gôshi]]'' (rural samurai, below rank of right of audience with the lord) households.<ref>[[Luke Roberts]], "Mori Yoshiki: Samurai Government Officer," in [[Anne Walthall]] (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan'', Scholarly Resources, Inc. (2002), 32.</ref>

The domain's [[castle town]] capital was at Kôchi, located roughly midway along the domain's coast. The city boasted a population of roughly 200,000 consistently throughout the period, while the population of the domain as a whole roughly doubled over the course of the period, from just under 275,000 according to a 1665 census, to over 500,000 in 1870 records. The most dramatic growth came in the late 17th century, with much of the 18th century seeing relative stagnation in demographic growth, due to recurrent famine, among other factors.<ref>Roberts, ''Mercantilism'', 60-61.</ref> At the end of the 18th century, there are believed to have been around 700 samurai households amongst the domain's population, and another 800 ''[[goshi|gôshi]]'' (rural samurai, below rank of right of audience with the lord) households. These ''gôshi'' were the highest-ranking retainers of the domain below full samurai status. Many were descendants of retainers of the [[Chosokabe clan|Chôsokabe clan]], while many others were commoners who had bought into the status. Though they lacked the right of audience with the lord of the domain, Tosa ''gôshi'' could wear two swords, and were permitted to ride in the annual military parade, the domain's most important political ritual event, provided they could afford to rent or own a horse. While many could not, others were comparatively wealthy, keeping up with the latest fashions and riding fine horses.<ref>[[Luke Roberts]], "Mori Yoshiki: Samurai Government Officer," in [[Anne Walthall]] (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan'', Scholarly Resources, Inc. (2002), 32-33.</ref>

==Edo Period==

==Edo Period==