Difference between revisions of "Kabunakama"
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''Kabunakama'' were merchant guilds of the [[Edo period]], which evolved out of the more basic merchants' associations known as ''[[nakama (guilds)|nakama]]''. The ''kabunakama'' were entrusted by the [[shogunate]] to manage their respective trades, and were allowed to enjoy a monopoly in their given field. | ''Kabunakama'' were merchant guilds of the [[Edo period]], which evolved out of the more basic merchants' associations known as ''[[nakama (guilds)|nakama]]''. The ''kabunakama'' were entrusted by the [[shogunate]] to manage their respective trades, and were allowed to enjoy a monopoly in their given field. | ||
| − | Some ''kabunakama'', known as ''gomen-kabu'', were even allowed to set prices and manage the operations of other ''nakama''. Though the shogunate originally opposed monopolies, they eventually gave in to the increasing numbers and organization of merchants' associations, and decided to make an attempt to control them by officially licensing them. In 1721, the government began to authorize individual ''nakama'' to become ''kabunakama'' (''kabu'' refers to "shares" in the financial sense of the word, though these were themselves not tradeable), and to oversee the organization and trade within given fields. The goal was to encourage cooperation, not competition, and always to work towards the goal of advancing the economy. It is said that these groups became quite social and merchants' moral codes thus developed to a significant degree. Those who were not following ethical market behavior, behaving uncooperatively, or encouraging competition, were shunned by their ''kabunakama'' comrades, and likely by the larger market community. | + | Some ''kabunakama'', known as ''gomen-kabu'', were even allowed to set prices and manage the operations of other ''nakama''. Though the shogunate originally opposed monopolies, they eventually gave in to the increasing numbers and organization of merchants' associations, and decided to make an attempt to control them by officially licensing them. In [[1721]], the government began to authorize individual ''nakama'' to become ''kabunakama'' (''kabu'' refers to "shares" in the financial sense of the word, though these were themselves not tradeable), and to oversee the organization and trade within given fields. A given ''kabunakama'' typically enjoyed exclusive privileges in the production and distribution of a single product, such as [[tea]], [[cotton]], [[tobacco]], or [[salt]], and could rely on the shogunate helping to enforce other merchants' exclusion from the market in that good, so long as the ''kabunakama'' policed its own members, ensuring a steady supply at reliable prices and quality.<ref name=hellyer86>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 86.</ref> The goal was to encourage cooperation, not competition, and always to work towards the goal of advancing the economy. It is said that these groups became quite social and merchants' moral codes thus developed to a significant degree. Those who were not following ethical market behavior, behaving uncooperatively, or encouraging competition, were shunned by their ''kabunakama'' comrades, and likely by the larger market community. |
| − | + | By [[1785]], there were over one hundred ''kabunakama'' in [[Osaka]] alone, including a number granted special privileges by the shogunate, but taxed heavily in exchange. Meanwhile, the shogunate exerted stronger control over the older guilds, known as ''[[za]]'', leaving the ''kabunakama'' with a relatively greater degree of autonomy.<ref name=hellyer86/> | |
In the 1840s, ''[[roju|rōjū]]'' [[Mizuno Tadakuni]] attempted to do away with the ''kabunakama'', in order to combat monopolies, but this and many of his other reforms were resisted so strongly by the merchants of Osaka (and others) that he was forced to abandon his efforts. The ''kabunakama'' were all dissolved, however, in 1870 as the economy modernized and new forms of business associations appeared. | In the 1840s, ''[[roju|rōjū]]'' [[Mizuno Tadakuni]] attempted to do away with the ''kabunakama'', in order to combat monopolies, but this and many of his other reforms were resisted so strongly by the merchants of Osaka (and others) that he was forced to abandon his efforts. The ''kabunakama'' were all dissolved, however, in 1870 as the economy modernized and new forms of business associations appeared. | ||
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*Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. | *Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. | ||
*Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. | *Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Economics]] | [[Category:Economics]] | ||
[[Category:Merchants]] | [[Category:Merchants]] | ||
[[Category:Edo Period]] | [[Category:Edo Period]] | ||
Revision as of 22:55, 11 July 2014
- Japanese: 株仲間 (kabunakama)
Kabunakama were merchant guilds of the Edo period, which evolved out of the more basic merchants' associations known as nakama. The kabunakama were entrusted by the shogunate to manage their respective trades, and were allowed to enjoy a monopoly in their given field.
Some kabunakama, known as gomen-kabu, were even allowed to set prices and manage the operations of other nakama. Though the shogunate originally opposed monopolies, they eventually gave in to the increasing numbers and organization of merchants' associations, and decided to make an attempt to control them by officially licensing them. In 1721, the government began to authorize individual nakama to become kabunakama (kabu refers to "shares" in the financial sense of the word, though these were themselves not tradeable), and to oversee the organization and trade within given fields. A given kabunakama typically enjoyed exclusive privileges in the production and distribution of a single product, such as tea, cotton, tobacco, or salt, and could rely on the shogunate helping to enforce other merchants' exclusion from the market in that good, so long as the kabunakama policed its own members, ensuring a steady supply at reliable prices and quality.[1] The goal was to encourage cooperation, not competition, and always to work towards the goal of advancing the economy. It is said that these groups became quite social and merchants' moral codes thus developed to a significant degree. Those who were not following ethical market behavior, behaving uncooperatively, or encouraging competition, were shunned by their kabunakama comrades, and likely by the larger market community.
By 1785, there were over one hundred kabunakama in Osaka alone, including a number granted special privileges by the shogunate, but taxed heavily in exchange. Meanwhile, the shogunate exerted stronger control over the older guilds, known as za, leaving the kabunakama with a relatively greater degree of autonomy.[1]
In the 1840s, rōjū Mizuno Tadakuni attempted to do away with the kabunakama, in order to combat monopolies, but this and many of his other reforms were resisted so strongly by the merchants of Osaka (and others) that he was forced to abandon his efforts. The kabunakama were all dissolved, however, in 1870 as the economy modernized and new forms of business associations appeared.
References
- This article was written by User:LordAmeth and contributed to both S-A and Wikipedia; the author gives permission for his work to be used in this way.
- Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
- Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
