The purpose of this article is to clarify the self-government body in Onomichi, Bingo Province, in the period of transition from Medival to Early Modern ages, by the method of Urban Spase analysis.
The principle conclusions are as follows :
1. The administrators of Chō-ju (the self-government body) in Onomichi were decended from developers of seaside area in the later part of Medieval ages.
2. The developers grew into chō-nin who owned the premises and market square in Onomichi in the early part of Early Modern ages.
3. To keep the peace and their interests in Onomichi, Chō-nin came to combined Chō (Terriorial-bond groups) into Chō-ju.