19世紀初頭の東広島市西条盆地南部，柏原における新田開発初期の進捗過程 : 「国郡志御用書上帳　賀茂郡柏原　ひかへ」の分析

本稿は，「国郡志御用書上帳　賀茂郡柏原　ひかへ」の分析を通して，19世紀初頭の東広島市西条盆地南部，柏原における新田開発初期の進捗過程の詳細を明らかにすることを目的とする。本史料は，1825（文政8）年に広島藩の地誌書として完成した『芸藩通誌』の編纂材料として，領内各郡村から藩へ提出された調査報告書である。開発の特徴として，1）入植を伴う新田開発は，広島藩からの指示によって始まったが，水利施設の増築という入植者からの要望が，割庄屋を通して藩へ申し入れられ，それが叶えられていること，2）入植者を増やす方策として，藩が入植者を経済的に支援し，年貢の免除や軽減を認めていることなど，入植者に配慮した藩の手厚い対応が垣間見られた。また，本稿では，水利施設に関する記載内容の合理的な解釈を，絵図や現実の地形条件に基づいて行った。文献史料と絵図・地形図などを組み合わせて活用する方法をとることで，当時の様子を精緻に再現できたところに，分野横断型の研究手法の意義を見出すことができた。

We discuss progress during the beginning stage of new reclamation work in early 19th-century Kashobara, in the southern part of Saijo Basin, Higashi-Hiroshima City, through interpretation of the historical document “Kokugunshigoyo-kakiagecho, Kamo-gun Kashobara.” The document is a copy of a report wherein county leaders (Warijoya) wrote geographical descriptions of each village in their county as of the early 19th century, at the order of the Hiroshima Domain; then, in 1825, the Domain compiled the reports as a book entitled “Geihantushi.” This study highlights that 1) the Domain ordered local villagers to engage in reclamation work in local neighborhoods, while villagers demanded through the county leaders that the Domain build irrigation facilities for growing rice (such as ponds and canals), which the Domain agreed to and provided financial support for; and 2) the Domain further supported poor newcomers by reducing their taxes. This case reveals that the Domain treated the local people in the county with kindness, whereas many other Domains were well-known to have ruled farmers heavy-handedly. Although it is difficult to understand some complicated descriptions in the document, such as concerning embankments of the irrigation ponds, we can arrive at reasonable reconstructions by interpreting old drawings and considering the actual topography. This research is a good example of the advantages of cross-disciplinary methods.