Changes

*''[[Kokudaka]]: 100,000 (before [[1808]]), 200,000 (after)''

*''[[Kokudaka]]: 100,000 (before [[1808]]), 200,000 (after)''

Morioka ''han'' was one of roughly ten smaller ''[[han]]'' located in [[Mutsu province]] in the [[Edo period]] alongside the larger, more prominent [[Sendai han]]. It was ruled from [[Morioka castle]] by the [[Nanbu clan]].

Morioka ''han'' was one of roughly ten smaller ''[[han]]'' located in [[Mutsu province]] in the [[Edo period]] alongside the larger, more prominent [[Sendai han]]. It was ruled from [[Morioka castle]] by the ''tozama daimyô'' of the [[Nanbu clan]].

The domain originally possessed a ''[[kokudaka]]'' of roughly 100,000 ''[[koku]]'', but this was doubled in [[1808]] in recognition of the Nanbu clan's contributions to the defense of [[Ezo]] ([[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]]) against [[Russia]]n encroachment. The new 200,000 ''koku'' level brought with it ''[[kuni-mochi]]'' ("province-holding") status for the Nanbu clan, but it was only an ''omotedaka'' increase, meaning an increase in the official status of the domain, as measured in ''koku'', but not an actual increase in the domain's agricultural production or geographic territory.

The first lord of Morioka was [[Nanbu Toshinao]], who supported the [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] in the [[Sekigahara Campaign]] and in the [[Osaka Winter Campaign]]. He had also led campaigns back home to suppress ''[[ikki]]'' uprisings, thus securing the territory for the Nanbu; in recognition of his loyal service, he was confirmed in these lands by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], with a ''[[kokudaka]]'' of 100,000 ''[[koku]]''. When his son, [[Nanbu Shigenao]], died without having chosen an heir, however, the shogunate divided the territory, reducing Morioka to 80,000 ''koku'' and creating [[Hachinohe han]] with 20,000 ''koku''.

 

The third lord of Morioka, [[Nanbu Shigenobu]], effected a domain-wide survey, brought new land into cultivation, and completed the formation and structuring of the domain's internal administration, bringing the domain's ''kokudaka'' back up to 100,000 ''koku''. Shigenobu was succeeded by his third son, [[Nanbu Yukinobu]], whose two elder brothers had predeceased him. He was age 50<ref>By traditional [[age calculation]], counting the number of calendar years in which he lived.</ref> when he became ''daimyô'' of Morioka; upon his death at age 61, he was succeeded by his second son, ''[[Bingo province|Bingo]] no kami'' [[Nanbu Nobuoki]], who died shortly afterwards at age 30, at the domain's [[Edo]] [[daimyo yashiki|mansion]].

 

 

 

The domain's official ''kokudaka'' of 100,000 ''koku'' was doubled in [[1808]], in recognition of the Nanbu clan's contributions to the defense of [[Ezo]] ([[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]]) against [[Russia]]n encroachment. [[Nanbu Toshinori]] was the lord of Morioka at this time. The new 200,000 ''koku'' level brought with it ''[[kuni-mochi]]'' ("province-holding") status for the Nanbu clan, but it was only an ''omotedaka'' increase, meaning an increase in the official status of the domain, as measured in ''koku'', but not an actual increase in the domain's agricultural production or geographic territory. This was a great boost for the domain's official status, but brought with it increased burdens, as the domain was now expected to provide double the troops<ref>In proportion to their 200,000 ''koku'' status, rather than their actual resources, which were closer to those of a 100,000 ''koku'' domain.</ref> to aid in the defense of the north (e.g. against the Russians).

Prior to 1808, the domain restricted its use of the term ''[[kuni]]'' (country/state), referring to the domain itself, to internal documents. In exchanges with the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] or other domains, humbler terms such as ''zaisho'' (residence) or ''ryôbun'' (portion of territory) were used, in accordance with the customs of [[omote and uchi|''omote'' and ''uchi'']]. However, once the clan gained ''kuni-mochi'' status, it began to employ the term ''kuni'' in its external correspondence, signifying its increased status.

Prior to 1808, the domain restricted its use of the term ''[[kuni]]'' (country/state), referring to the domain itself, to internal documents. In exchanges with the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] or other domains, humbler terms such as ''zaisho'' (residence) or ''ryôbun'' (portion of territory) were used, in accordance with the customs of [[omote and uchi|''omote'' and ''uchi'']]. However, once the clan gained ''kuni-mochi'' status, it began to employ the term ''kuni'' in its external correspondence, signifying its increased status.

Similarly, the domain briefly, from [[1753]] to [[1797]], referred to its chief elder governmental advisors as ''[[roju|rôjû]]'', employing the same term which the Tokugawa used to refer to its chief governmental advisors. Historian [[Luke Roberts]] suggests this may have been done to lend the advisors, the clan, and/or the domain as a whole more prestige within internal contexts. In external communications, the domain was pressured to employ humbler terms such as ''toshiyori'' (lit. "Elder"), and eventually, after 1797, returned to using the less presumptuous and more widely used (i.e. within other domains) term ''[[karo|karô]]'' ("house elder").

Similarly, from [[1753]] to [[1797]], the domain had referred to its chief elder governmental advisors as ''[[roju|rôjû]]'', employing the same term which the Tokugawa used to refer to its chief governmental advisors. Historian [[Luke Roberts]] suggests this may have been done to lend the advisors, the clan, and/or the domain as a whole more prestige within internal contexts. In external communications, the domain was pressured to employ humbler terms such as ''toshiyori'' (lit. "Elder"), and eventually, after 1797, returned to using the less presumptuous and more widely used (i.e. within other domains) term ''[[karo|karô]]'' ("house elder").

The domain is known to have suffered from economic difficulties in the early-mid-18th century, leading to a [[1742]] prohibition on residents from other domains<ref>The term used in the formal documents is ''kuni''.</ref> settling within the territory Morioka ''han''. This was done in order to prevent the domain's limited resources from being divided even more thinly, across more people; however, the economic difficulties were such that the domain instead saw a considerable exodus of its own people, as they sought better fortunes elsewhere. The affair damaged popular support for the domain's leaders, as some argued that the domain's government should make Morioka a place others want to come to, not a place that people want to leave.

The domain is known to have suffered from economic difficulties in the early-mid-18th century, leading to a [[1742]] prohibition on residents from other domains<ref>The term used in the formal documents is ''kuni''.</ref> settling within the territory Morioka ''han''. This was done in order to prevent the domain's limited resources from being divided even more thinly, across more people; however, the economic difficulties were such that the domain instead saw a considerable exodus of its own people, as they sought better fortunes elsewhere. The affair damaged popular support for the domain's leaders, as some argued that the domain's government should make Morioka a place others want to come to, not a place that people want to leave.

==Daimyô of Morioka==

==Daimyô of Morioka==

*[[Nanbu Toshinao]] (d. [[1632]])

#[[Nanbu Toshinao]] (d. [[1632]])

 

===Other Notable Figures from Morioka===

===Other Notable Figures from Morioka===

==References==

==References==

*[[Luke Roberts|Roberts, Luke]]. ''Performing the Great Peace: Political Space and Open Secrets in Tokugawa Japan''. University of Hawaii Press, 2012. pp48-50.

*[[Luke Roberts|Roberts, Luke]]. ''Performing the Great Peace: Political Space and Open Secrets in Tokugawa Japan''. University of Hawaii Press, 2012. pp48-50.

[[Category:Han]]

[[Category:Han]]