In the late 18th century, merchant houses worth more than 200,000 ''[[currency|ryô]]'' numbered more than two hundred. With one ''ryô'' being ostensibly equal in value to one ''koku'', this made the wealth of these merchant houses equivalent to that of some of the wealthiest ''daimyô''.<ref name=brief135/> | In the late 18th century, merchant houses worth more than 200,000 ''[[currency|ryô]]'' numbered more than two hundred. With one ''ryô'' being ostensibly equal in value to one ''koku'', this made the wealth of these merchant houses equivalent to that of some of the wealthiest ''daimyô''.<ref name=brief135/> |