April 1784: 'The Drawings and Actual Measurements Don't Match!' Behind the Scenes of a Massive Project 80 Years in the Making, Faced by Edo Officials - A Record of Struggles with Ancient Documents - #52
Since we've been talking about money for a while, I've picked a different theme for a change of pace.
When looking at a map of Tokyo, it is a river that runs horizontally (east-west), but the name is related to the Tenmei era regarding the |Tate-kawa (Vertical River)|.
I borrowed this from the 'Tenmei Senyo Ruishu,' a collection of highly practical administrative documents compiled by Edo-period officials for their daily work.
Please take a look at this regarding the Tate-kawa.
What I read this time
First, using the 'Fuminoha' kuzushiji (cursive script) deciphering app 'Komonjo Camera':
I hold my smartphone over the image to read it and make an educated guess about the characters.
Then, I fed the resulting transcribed text into Gemini and asked for a modern Japanese translation and an explanation of the context.
Deciphering using the power of civilization!
1. The 'Field Perspective' that points out discrepancies in the plan
This is a scene from the beginning of the project where officials (the accounting department) report the discrepancy between their drawings and reality.
[Reading] 'In the plan received from the accounting department, the distance between Itsutsume and Sakasai is 2,640 ken. Upon our inspection, it is over 2,700 ken, which is a discrepancy of over 60 ken when compared to the distance provided by the accounting department.'
(Explanation) This is a report without sugarcoating by the field staff (Shima and Nimatsu) saying, 'According to the authorities' calculations, it's 4.8 km, but when we actually measured it, it was 4.9 km. There's a discrepancy of over 100 meters!' Even in the Edo period, projects began with a battle between armchair theories and the reality on the ground.
2. Failure is not an option: 'A contract that bets the house'
This is a written oath submitted to the Shogunate by Ihei and his team, who won the bid, effectively cutting off their own retreat.
[Reading] 'Should any hindrance to the construction occur, I will not utter a single word of complaint even if the aforementioned land is confiscated. Therefore, I submit this written oath.'
(Explanation) A clause stating, 'If the construction is hindered, I will not complain even if the land I put up as collateral is confiscated.' This is not just a contract, but a life-or-death commitment that holds the 'houses' of relatives and associates hostage. It makes one re-evaluate the weight of 'responsibility' in modern business.
3. Work-style reform? 'Strategy for securing manpower'
Why do they want to start construction in May? This is the contractor's analysis of the 'labor market'.
[Reading] 'Regarding the timing of the labor dispatch for this construction, the period from now until July is a time when rural labor is unavailable. Therefore, the labor supply is very good, and since we wish to finish before the days grow shorter and the cold weather sets in, we humbly request to begin work by this coming May.'
(Commentary) This is a proposal stating, 'Once July arrives, it will be the busy farming season, and there will be a shortage of labor in the villages (rural labor unavailability). Right now, the days are long and it is not cold. Let's get it done all at once during May, when conditions are perfect!' We can see the professional perspective of a contractor who perfectly understands the fluidity of seasons, weather, and labor.
4. Realistic Negotiations on Cash Flow
Instead of a lump-sum payment, they request to secure 'cash flow' that matches the progress of the work.
[Reading] 'For the initial work worth approximately 1,000 ryo, we humbly request an advance payment of over 600 ryo, and thereafter, as the work progresses, we humbly request that the remaining funds be paid out in six installments.'
(Commentary) 'First, please give us 600 ryo once we have completed about 1,000 ryo worth of work. After that, please pay us in a total of six installments according to our progress.' How to prevent a cash shortage while running a massive project—contractors 240 years ago faced the same worries as modern business owners.
🏁 Conclusion: Ancient Documents are 'Living Business Books'
The 'Tenmei Senyo Ruishu' transcribed here contains much more than just a record of construction.
Thorough preliminary research (site inspection)
Bidding and contracts that carry risk
Labor procurement and project management
Optimization of cash flow
The Tatekawa dredging project of the Edo period was a living business case study that provides many 'insights' even when read by us today.
Disclaimer
As this was read by an amateur, I cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of the content 😢 Please check the original source when referencing.
Click here for the previous article
Click here for recommended dictionaries and books for ancient documents
I feel like I can read them by looking at many examples
You don't need these when you've just started studying. But the time will come when you do!!
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📜 Materials Section: 'Tenmei Senyo Ruishu' Honjo Tatekawa Dredging Section (Excerpt)
In writing this article, I have transcribed and referenced the following historical materials. As an amateur reading ancient documents, I cannot guarantee the quality or accuracy of the content. 😢 Please check the original sources when referencing.
Source: 'Tenmei Senyo Ruishu' [39] Vol. 16 Part 1, Tatekawa Dredging Section (Held by the National Diet Library Digital Collection)https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/2572888
【Key Transcriptions】
1. Site Inspection Report (Discrepancy between plan and actual measurement)
1. According to the estimate book received from the Accounting Office, the distance between Itsutsume and Sakasai is 2,640 ken. Upon our inspection, the length is over 2,700 ken; when compared to the distance provided by the Accounting Office, there is a discrepancy of over 60 ken. 1. Eighty years ago, in the second year of Hoei (Year of the Rooster), there was a dredging project for the Tatekawa River. It was dredged to a depth of 5 to 6 shaku, but there has been no dredging or closure work since then... (#23)
2. Bidding Results (Top three entries)
Regarding the bidding for the Honjo Tatekawa dredging project, we witnessed the opening of the bids. The depth at the bottom of the tide is 4 shaku 5 sun, and the rest is as follows. 1st Bid: 5,636 ryo, 2 bu, 7 monme of silver (Ihei, landlord of Honjo Yanagihara 1-chome; Jingoro of Fukagawa Motomachi) 2nd Bid: 5,755 ryo, 2 bu, 5 monme of silver (Mozaemon, Genzo) 3rd Bid: 5,776 ryo... (#26)
3. Contractor's request regarding construction period and funding plan
1. Regarding the labor for the aforementioned construction, between now and July, there is a shortage of labor in the rural areas, so labor is very easy to secure. Furthermore, since the days are long and it will be finished before the cold weather sets in, we request to begin by this May. 1. Regarding the payment of funds, we request that 600 ryo be provided initially for the work completed, which is estimated at about 1,000 ryo, and that subsequent payments be made gradually as the work progresses, for a total of six installments. (#34-35)
4. Contract Guarantee (Collateral and Guarantor)
Should any hindrance to the construction occur, we will not utter a single word of complaint even if the aforementioned land is confiscated. We hereby submit this document. (#39)
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