Kihachijo: The Silk Fabric that Supported the Island

Kihachijo Supported the Island's Economy in the Edo Period

During the Edo period, it was common to pay annual tax with grain or money, but on Hachijojima, the local specialty silk fabric (Kihachijo) was paid as tax instead of grain. The amount was calculated based on the area of the fields surveyed by officials, and the quality of the fabric was also strictly controlled by them. Kihachijo became an official purveyor to the Shogun's family and was worn by the women of the O-oku (the inner rooms of the shogun's palace where the women of his entourage were housed). In addition to the kimono cloth delivered to the shogunate, some Kihachijo was sold through Edo merchants. It gradually became popular not only with some daimyo and vassals, but also with the general public in Edo. The proceeds from these sales were used to purchase raw silk, food, and other necessary goods, which were then brought back to the island.

History of Kihachijo as Land Tax

1620 (Genna 6)

Event: Officials visit the island to inspect the fields

Tax Amount: Determined by the magistrate's judgment (not by field area)

1670 (Kanbun 10)

1673 (Enpo 1)

Event: The fields are surveyed and the tax amount is determined by the area

Tax Amount: 620 tan (*approx. 7,440 meters long)

1722 (Kyoho 7)

Event: Hachijo-kojima and Aogashima are also surveyed as tax targets

Tax Amount: 635.5 tan

1738 (Genbun 3)

Event: A strict land survey is conducted (recorded in tan, se, and bu units)

1782 (Tenmei 2)

Event: The tax amount reaches its maximum

663 tan, 2 bu, 5 rin

1839 (Tenpo 10)

Event: The tax amount reaches its maximum

Tax Amount: 704 tan, 9 bu, 7 rin, 5 mo

1909 (Meiji 42)

Event: The tribute silk system is abolished, and the land tax is paid in cash

Tax Amount:1 tan of Ki-tsumugi is converted to 1 yen, 72 sen, and 5 rin

* In the Edo period, the length of a bolt of cloth was fixed (2 tan), and was one kaneshaku and eight jo (approx. 24 meters) long