The Existence Structure of Temple Loan Business in Premodern Japan

Abstract

One of the self-help measures to secure the finances of temples in Premodern Japan is the loan project that is protected by the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate, called the “Myoumoku-kin loan . In this paper, based on the records left by the temple named the Myoho-in which was engaged in the loan at the time, it has been set an explanation of the structure of the existence of the loan. The loan agent was not delegated solely by a contract between the employee and the agent. The Myoho-in reported the selected agent to the local government, and a poll was conducted on him by the residents who would borrow the money. This was by no means a meaningless procedure, and only the passed person could be finally approved as the temple s loan agent. In this respect, the existence structure of the Myomoku-kin loan is extremely dependent on others.