#68
            68. SALES OF LAND TO THE NUN OF TO-GO, 1327
                         (Copies in Shuin docs., roll V.)
THE once great Shuin family (see the prefaces to Nos. 3 and 50) had been much weakened by its
unequal competition with the vigorous branches of the Shibuya stock. In these documents, the
Shuin are seen to be parting with their hereditary domains by sale to their very rival.
  The following table will show the genealogical relation of the sellers of land:-

"\ズハショウリャク\"

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   The buyer, the nun of Togo, was doubtless widow of a late Shibuya lord of that place. This is
the family from which has sprung Admiral Togo, the hero of the battle of the Sea of Japan of May
1905, in the war with Russia.
   Kusumoto and Nakamura were situated opposite Togo across the river Sendai and on both sides
of the Hiwaki, and constituted the northwestern part of Iriki in. Nagari or Nagatoshi lay west of
the in beyond a mountain range.
   SK, XII (also Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, ii, 532) contains an order from the Zasso ketsu-dan sho,
dated 29 August 1335, summoning a Togo and others to Kyoto, regarding lands sold and mortgaged
by the Shu-in.




#68-A
                                             A
  "RESPECTFULLY to sell
    I cho at Tsuchi-ana, in Nagatoshi myo, being the ta deducted in lieu of the tsune-
 mi1 ta exempt2 for the Hachiman Niita temple; and 5 tan of the ta exempt [for
    the same temple] at Kusumoto, in Iriki in, Satsuma kuni.
The above exempted2 ta [we] have held without interference, but, having need [of
money], respectfully sell and transfer for all time for the price thirty-five kwan of
copper money to the ama go-zen3 of To-go. So shall [she] hold [them] as lands in
complete fiscal immunity.4 Therefore, for future days, the deed of sale is [made] thus.
  "Ka-ryaku 2 y. 7 m. 30 d. [17 Aug. 1327].                    Koremune Tomowo, monogram.
                                                               Sha-mi, Do-Gon, monogram."




#68-B
                                             B
"To sell:
    I cho at Uso-goe, in Nakamura, Iriki in, Satsuma kuni, [which is] among the
    holdings of the shu-in shiki of the Niita Temple, of the same kuni.
The above mentioned land Do-Ye has held by hereditary succession without inter-
ference, but, having need, respectfully sells and transfers for all time for the price forty
kwan of copper money to the ama go-zen3 of To-go. However, for a certain reason,
[Do-Ye]  has presented his elder brother, Shu-in nyu-do Do-Gon, and his son Tomo-
kane,5 Buddhist name Kyo-Nin, a letter of agreement6 concerning this ta; and, conse-
quently, Kyo-Nin, as he consents to his sale, has added his monogram to that latter.
Moreover, in order to [clear any] doubt, [Do-Ye should present] the letter of devise
by his father Do-Kyo and letter of succession by Do-Gon and Kyo-Nin; but since the
original documents are connected deeds,7 [Do-Ye] has sealed copies on the reverse
side,7 and presents them herewith. [The ama go-zen] shall hold [this land] in accord-
ance with these [copied] letters. Since this land has from the first not been burdened
with the miscellaneous obligations(ku-zhi) and irregular services(yaku), it shall be
held as a land of complete immunity.4 If unexpectedly any trouble should arise about
this land, [Do-Ye] would recall it for twice the original money.8 Therefore, for future
days, the deed of sale is [made] thus.
  "Ka-ryaku 2 y. 10 m. 28 d. [11 Dec. 1327]                  Sha-mi Kyo-Nin.
                                                             Sha-mi Do-Ye."




  1The meaning of this phrase, which occurs more than once in the Shu-in documents, is not clear.
  2Men; see No. 18, n.5.                    3Ama means a nun; go-zen is honorific.
  4Ichi-yen fu-yu, completely tax-free. In the pre-feudal ages, fu-yu and fu-kwa were two differ-
ent forms of fiscal immunity, the former meaning freedom from the land-tax, and the latter, from
the corvee or its commutation in money or in kind and from the tributes in kind. This distinction
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in the use of the terms ceased to be observed in strictness during the feudal ages, as indeed the
whole system of finance was altered and confused. In our text, fu-yu is the term used, but the
actual immunity to which the word referred plainly comprised fu-kwa.
   5The same as Tomosato.
   6Very likely these two men, father and son, had thereby transferred the title to Do-Ye under
certain conditions.
   7Ren-ken, "connected deed," meant a document covering an estate of which only a portion was
now conveyed. In such case, instead of handing over the original deed to the buyer, a copy of it
was made, as in this instance, and the seller endorsed it on the reverse side, stating the part that
was now transferred and writing his monogram. This process was called "sealing" (fu) the "reverse"
(ura).In fact, the added statement might be written on the margin of the copy on the same side
as the text, and still the same expression, ura wo fu zu, was employed. Cf. No. 47, n. 5.
   8See No. 55, n. 24.