Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
quarterofthetown,justasstreet-namesinoldcitiesinEuropeindicatewhattheydidthere;
in Japan the authorities are said to have encouraged if not required this grouping, to facilit-
ate control. The craftsmen in a town also had their associations—one might almost use the
word “guild”—to supervise their standards and act as benevolent societies. Some of these
associations had protective deities in the
shintō
pantheon, like patron saints in Europe: that
oftheblacksmithswasInari,thericegodwhosemessengerisafox,andthisrelationshipis
demonstrated ina
nō
play,which showsthe godhelping the swordsmith with aparticularly
difficult job. There was usually an annual meeting or festival, and this helped to maintain
the solidarity of the group. The more affluent members, in particular those with connec-
tions with the great households, were the leaders, often called “the elders,” and spokesmen
ofthese associations, inwhichthelowlycraftsmen tookbutahumble role.Inaworkdated
1774 craftsmen are enjoined to concentrate upon their craft.
You should have engraved upon your heart the realization that there is no way of
earning more than enough for each to live on. No matter how poor you are, you
mustnotbebeguiledintoanothertrade.Ifyouplyyourcraftunchanginglyandwith
complete devotion, the time may come when you will prosper.
They are advised to work cheerfully, to maintain honesty and exactitude, not to envy
those in other crafts, not to refuse any commissions even though the price of materials has
risen and profit could thereby grow less, and to live contented with their lot.
Many followed these injunctions, either through necessity or virtue, but some were
more concerned with financial gain, and, by employing the cheap labor of many appren-
tices, expanded their sales. In any case, the actual status of craftsmen underwent a change
as the period went on; from working for individual clients, they became more and more
workmen employed by capitalists. These were owners of warehouses who became middle-
men be-
tween the craftsman and his customer, and who tended to debase the old values by
thinking more of price and quantity than of quality, and who did not hesitate to bring in
untrainedlabor.Someofthiscamefromtheranksofthewarriors,thepoorestofwhomhad
to take on hand work to eke out their rice-incomes; they seemed to turn to umbrella and
clog-making for preference, and of course often did clerical work. Those who fell into the
power of warehouse-owners were generally workers who made things for sale rather than
craftsmensuchasbuildersandotherswhoprovidedservices,andwhomaintainedagreater
degree of independence.
