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''Hyakushô'' (lit. "one hundred surnames") is a term generally used to refer to peasants or villagers, especially of the medieval and [[Edo period]]s. The definition of the term and its best translation have been the subject of considerable scholarly debate, along with debate as to understandings of the lifestyles led by ''hyakushô'' and their level of economic well-being.

''Hyakushô'' (lit. "one hundred surnames") is a term generally used to refer to peasants or villagers, especially of the medieval and [[Edo period]]s. The definition of the term and its best translation have been the subject of considerable scholarly debate, along with debate as to understandings of the lifestyles led by ''hyakushô'' and their level of economic well-being.

The term is most often translated as "peasants," with the implication of being farmers, i.e. of relying primarily on agricultural activity for subsistence and economic well-being. However, many scholars, [[Amino Yoshihiko]] perhaps chief among them, have argued that many ''hyakushô'' were craftsmen, merchants, traders, landowners, or fishermen, and/or earned a living engaging in other commercial, artisanal, or maritime activities. This is a key element of Amino's broader argument, that pre-modern Japanese society was not nearly as exclusively based upon agricultural production, and that regional rural areas were not so isolated, as is most commonly believed. In his translation of Amino's work, [[Alan Christy]] translates ''hyakushô'' into English not as "peasants," but as "villagers."

The term is most often translated as "peasants," with the implication of ''hyakushô'' being farmers, i.e. that they relied primarily on agricultural activity for subsistence and economic well-being. However, many scholars, [[Amino Yoshihiko]] perhaps chief among them, have argued that many ''hyakushô'' were craftsmen, merchants, traders, landowners, or fishermen, and/or earned a living engaging in other commercial, artisanal, or maritime activities. This is a key element of Amino's broader argument, that pre-modern Japanese society was not nearly as exclusively based upon agricultural production, and that regional rural areas were not so isolated, as is most commonly believed. In his translation of Amino's work, [[Alan Christy]] translates ''hyakushô'' into English not as "peasants," but as "villagers."

In modern/contemporary Japan, the term ''hyakushô'' has come to take on a feudal connotation, much as the word "peasant" has in English. The term is thus sometimes seen as derogatory, and is avoided, with the term ''nômin'' (lit. "agricultural people," or farmers) used instead; the equivalence between ''hyakushô'' and ''nômin'' is strongly ingrained in the common collective consciousness, despite scholarly attempts to reexamine the character and activities of the medieval or early modern ''hyakushô''.

In modern/contemporary Japan, the term ''hyakushô'' has come to take on a feudal connotation, much as the word "peasant" has in English. The term is thus sometimes seen as derogatory, and is avoided, with the term ''nômin'' (lit. "agricultural people," or farmers) used instead; the equivalence between ''hyakushô'' and ''nômin'' is strongly ingrained in the common collective consciousness, despite scholarly attempts to reexamine the character and activities of the medieval or early modern ''hyakushô''.