Changes

*''Japanese'': 御用金 ''(goyou kin)''

*''Japanese'': 御用金 ''(goyou kin)''

''Goyôkin'' was a special type of tax, or levy, imposed by [[domains]] at times upon their subjects in the [[Edo period]]. In western parts of Japan where [[silver]] was the standard mode of [[currency]] instead of [[gold]], this was called ''goyôgin''.

''Goyôkin'' was a special type of tax, or levy, imposed by [[han|domains]] at times upon their subjects in the [[Edo period]]. In western parts of Japan where [[silver]] was the standard mode of [[currency]] instead of [[gold]], this was called ''goyôgin''.

While the special type of tax called ''[[kariage]]'' exacted funds chiefly or exclusively from retainers, and while the brunt of regular taxes was for the most part borne by the peasantry, ''goyôkin'' aimed chiefly at those who had money to pay: namely, the wealthy merchants. Like the ''kariage'', it was ostensibly a mandatory loan, not a "tax," though in practice, the domain rarely paid it back. The amount needed was determined, and then the amount each townsman or rural retainer would have to pay was calculated. Wealthy merchants paid the most in ''goyôkin'', but poorer people of various classes of society often bore the brunt of this special "loan" as well. Some of the wealthiest merchants, however, escaped the levy, as their status as village headmen or district officials within a city or town made them tax exempt.

While the special type of tax called ''[[kariage]]'' exacted funds chiefly or exclusively from retainers, and while the brunt of regular taxes was for the most part borne by the peasantry, ''goyôkin'' aimed chiefly at those who had money to pay: namely, the wealthy merchants. Like the ''kariage'', it was ostensibly a mandatory loan, not a "tax," though in practice, the domain rarely paid it back. The amount needed was determined, and then the amount each townsman or rural retainer would have to pay was calculated. Wealthy merchants paid the most in ''goyôkin'', but poorer people of various classes of society often bore the brunt of this special "loan" as well. Some of the wealthiest merchants, however, escaped the levy, as their status as village headmen or district officials within a city or town made them tax exempt.