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The ''za'' were one of the primary types of trade guilds in feudal Japan. They first appeared in the 12th century, and remained the dominant form of trade association until roughly the end of the 16th century, when guild structures began to shift and other types of organizations began to grow in number.

The ''za'' were one of the primary types of trade guilds in feudal Japan. They first appeared in the 12th century, and remained the dominant form of trade association until roughly the end of the 16th century, when guild structures began to shift and other types of organizations began to grow in number.

 

A number of other types of associations were also known as ''za''; the common feature between all of these was that they represented a form of horizontal association between people coming together to protect common interests. Groups often acknowledged some kind of seniority, whether based on age or length of membership, but to a large extent honored a sense of relative equality among members. For example, seating at the meeting of a particular ''za'' might have been according to seniority, but the distribution of revenues was largely egalitarian.

== Origins and purpose==

== Origins and purpose==

The ''za'' grew out of protective cooperation between merchants and temples and shrines; merchants would travel and transport goods in groups, for protection from bandits and the vacillating whims of samurai and ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''. They would also enter into arrangements with temples and shrines to sell their goods on a pitch or platform in the temple's (or shrine's) grounds, placing themselves under the auspices and protection of the temple or shrine. The word ''za'', meaning seat, pitch, or platform, was thus applied to the guilds. The name may have also come, more simply, from the idea of merchants within a guild or association sharing a seat or platform in the marketplace.

The ''za'' grew out of protective cooperation between merchants and temples and shrines; merchants would travel and transport goods in groups, for protection from bandits and the vacillating whims of samurai and ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''. They would also enter into arrangements with temples and shrines to sell their goods on a pitch or platform in the temple's (or shrine's) grounds, placing themselves under the auspices and protection of the temple or shrine. The word ''za'', meaning seat, pitch, or platform, was thus applied to the guilds. The name may have also come, more simply, from the idea of merchants within a guild or association sharing a seat or platform in the marketplace. Performing troupes and other ''za'' organizations had similarly protective relationships with temples or shrines.

 

''Za'' represented a form of association and collective protection outside of official political structures, which formed, in part at least, as the result of anxieties or concerns about the instability or un-trustworthiness of the official structures. In an age of weak or untrustworthy government, and especially amongst the chaos of the [[Sengoku period]], ''za'' represented a certain stability and opportunity for collective defense against the chaos. Being outside of officially sanctioned structures, however, meant that at times, certain authorities saw the most powerful ''za'' as potential threats to their power.

==History==

==History==

The earliest ''za'' came into being in the 12th century, consisting not only of trade guilds, but also guilds of performers and entertainers. Even today, performers of ''[[kabuki]]'' and ''[[noh]]'' are in associations called ''za'' (see [[Kabuki-za]]).

The earliest ''za'' came into being in the 12th century, consisting not only of trade guilds, but also guilds of performers and entertainers. Even today, performers of ''[[kabuki]]'' and ''[[noh]]'' are in associations called ''za'' (see [[Kabuki-za]]). Outcastes formed their own ''za'', which might be seen to fall under the rubric of "occupational" or "trade" guilds. Village religious organizations which worked together to organize local festivals and ceremonies, however, were also known as ''za'' - ''miyaza'' ("shrine ''za''") to be specific.

The ''za'' trade guilds appeared as a major force in the 14th century, and lasted in their original forms through the end of the 16th, when other guilds and trade organizations arose and subsumed the ''za''. While no longer powerful in their original forms, it could be argued that the basic concept of the ''za'', and most likely the same merchants running them, continued to exist as powerful agents in the market through to the 18th, going through many organizational and structural changes over the centuries, and eventually being eclipsed by other organizations like the ''[[ie (trading houses)|ie]]'' trading houses. Though very powerful at times, and enjoying certain tax exemptions and other formal governmental benefits, it is important to note that the ''za'', at least in their original forms, were never as official or organized as the medieval guilds of Europe.

The ''za'' trade guilds appeared as a major force in the 14th century, and lasted in their original forms through the end of the 16th, when other guilds and trade organizations arose and subsumed the ''za''. While no longer powerful in their original forms, it could be argued that the basic concept of the ''za'', and most likely the same merchants running them, continued to exist as powerful agents in the market through to the 18th, going through many organizational and structural changes over the centuries, and eventually being eclipsed by other organizations like the ''[[ie (trading houses)|ie]]'' trading houses. Though very powerful at times, and enjoying certain tax exemptions and other formal governmental benefits, it is important to note that the ''za'', at least in their original forms, were never as official or organized as the medieval guilds of Europe.

===''Za'' in the Muromachi period===

===''Za'' in the Muromachi period===

However, it was not until the [[Muromachi period]] ([[1336]]-[[1467]]) that the ''za'' really came to be a significant presence in Japan's economic world. By this time, many more ''za'' had appeared, and were larger, more organized, and more well-connected with temples, shrines, and nobles. While many associated themselves with temples and shrines, many other guilds allied themselves with noble families, gaining protection in exchange for a sharing of the profits. For example, [[Kyoto|Kyoto's]] yeast-brewers were associated with the [[Kitano Tenman-gū]] shrine, and the oil brokers had the [[Tendai]] monastery of [[Enryakuji]] as their patron. The [[gold leaf]] makers of Kyoto placed themselves under the protection of the [[Konoe family]], and the fishmongers under the [[Saionji family|Saionji]], a particularly powerful and wealthy family, who earned two-thirds of the profits of Kyoto's fish markets from the arrangement.

However, it was not until the [[Muromachi period]] ([[1336]]-[[1467]]) that the ''za'' really came to be a significant presence in Japan's economic world. By this time, many more ''za'' had appeared, and were larger, more organized, and more well-connected with temples, shrines, and nobles. While many associated themselves with temples and shrines, many other guilds allied themselves with noble families, gaining protection in exchange for a sharing of the profits. For example, [[Kyoto|Kyoto's]] yeast-brewers were associated with the [[Kitano Tenman-gū]] shrine, and the oil brokers had the [[Tendai]] monastery of [[Enryakuji]] as their patron. The [[gold leaf]] makers of Kyoto placed themselves under the protection of the [[Konoe family]], and the fishmongers under the [[Saionji family|Saionji]], a particularly powerful and wealthy family, who earned two-thirds of the profits of Kyoto's fish markets from the arrangement. Two troupes of ''[[Yamato sarugaku]]'' performers, the Yûzaki-za and Emai-za, enjoyed the protection of the [[Kofuku-ji|Kôfuku-ji]].

During this period, agricultural and economic advancement and growth was quite rapid in the countryside, or "[[Kinai|Home Provinces]]", and ''za'' began to conglomerate into groups organized by their locality, not by their trade. These rural ''za'' were generally associations of wealthier peasant farmers who combined to sell oil, bamboo, rice, or other agricultural products in bulk; they occasionally allowed urban brokers to join their guilds, to act as their proxy or guide in the city markets. However, in the large cities, where economic progress was occurring in a different way, ''za'' formed up, as might be expected, by trade, and began to concentrate themselves in small sections of the city. [[Ginza]], meaning "silver ''za''" (silver trade guild), in [[Tokyo]], is one of the most famous place-names to reflect this activity, though the Guildhall area of London, on the other side of the world, is a perfect example of the equivalent English activity.

During this period, agricultural and economic advancement and growth was quite rapid in the countryside, or "[[Kinai|Home Provinces]]", and ''za'' began to conglomerate into groups organized by their locality, not by their trade. These rural ''za'' were generally associations of wealthier peasant farmers who combined to sell oil, bamboo, rice, or other agricultural products in bulk; they occasionally allowed urban brokers to join their guilds, to act as their proxy or guide in the city markets. However, in the large cities, where economic progress was occurring in a different way, ''za'' formed up, as might be expected, by trade, and began to concentrate themselves in small sections of the city. [[Ginza]], meaning "silver ''za''" (silver trade guild), in [[Tokyo]], is one of the most famous place-names to reflect this activity, though the Guildhall area of London, on the other side of the world, is a perfect example of the equivalent English activity.

==References==

==References==

*Kaplan, Edward The Cultures of East Asia: Political-Material Aspects. Chap. 16 & 18. 25 June 2003 <http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~kaplan/>.

*Eiko Ikegami, ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 80-81.

*Sansom, George (1961). "A History of Japan: 1334-1615." Stanford: Stanford University Press.

*Edward Kaplan, "[http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~kaplan/ The Cultures of East Asia: Political-Material Aspects]," Chap. 16 & 18, 25 June 2003.

*Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford: Stanford University Press.

*[[George Sansom]], ''A History of Japan: 1334-1615'', Stanford University Press, 1961.

*Sansom, George (1962). "Japan: a Short Cultural History." New York: Appleton-Century Crofts.

*Sansom, ''A History of Japan: 1615-1867'', Stanford University Press, 1963.

*Sansom, ''Japan: a Short Cultural History'', New York: Appleton-Century Crofts, 1962.

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[[Category:Economics]][[Category:Merchants]]

[[Category:Economics]][[Category:Merchants]]