JAPAN

Banknote

Hansatsu

"Uwajima Domain Note"

Silver 2 Fun

(1760)

FRONT

・宇和島（Uwajima Domain）

・銀弐ふん（Silver 2 Fun）

BACK

・宝暦十年康辰（10th year of Hōreki, Year of Kanoe-Tatsu, 1760）

・十一月吉祥日（An auspicious day in November）

🌹 Uwajima Domain (Uwajima-han) 🌹

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　The Uwajima Domain was a feudal domain located in southern Iyo Province (present-day Ehime Prefecture) during the Edo period. It was ruled primarily by the Date family, a branch of the powerful Sendai Date clan.

• Location: Southern Iyo Province (modern Ehime Prefecture) 

• Castle: Uwajima Castle 

• Stipend: 100,000 koku 

• Ruling family: Date clan 

　The domain was formally established in 1615, when Date Hidemune, the eldest son of the famous daimyo Date Masamune, was granted the territory. From that point onward, the Uwajima Date family governed the domain throughout the Edo period.

　Despite being classified as a tozama (outside) daimyo, the Uwajima Domain maintained relatively stable relations with the Tokugawa shogunate. Its coastal location contributed to the development of maritime trade, fishing, and salt production.

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🌹Role in the Late Edo Period

　One of the most notable lords of Uwajima was Date Munenari, who played an important role in the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate.

He was known as one of the “Four Wise Lords” (Shiken-kō) and promoted:

• Coastal defense 

• Adoption of Western technology 

• Political reform and openness to foreign relations 

　These efforts positioned Uwajima as a relatively progressive domain in the late Edo period.

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🌹Economy and Local Characteristics

　The economy of the Uwajima Domain was supported by:

• Agriculture 

• Fishing and marine products 

• Salt production 

• Coastal trade 

　Its access to the sea made it an important regional center in southwestern Shikoku.

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🌹Notes on Coinage and Paper Money (Clan Bills)

　The Uwajima Domain also participated in the issuance of clan-issued paper money (hansatsu), which circulated within the domain as a supplementary currency.

　Like many domains during the Edo period:

• Precious metals such as gold and silver were limited in regional circulation 

• Domains issued paper money to facilitate local economic activity 

• These notes were typically backed by the domain’s authority rather than actual metal reserves 

　In some cases, such paper notes were used flexibly among merchants, functioning similarly to promissory notes.

　As for coinage, official gold and silver coins (such as koban, ichibugin, and other denominations) were issued by the central Tokugawa government. However, in practice, domains like Uwajima relied on a mix of:

• Official coinage 

• Locally circulating silver by weight 

• Clan-issued paper currency 

　This combination reflects the complex and semi-monetized economy of the Edo period.

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🌹 Summary

　The Uwajima Domain was a mid-sized feudal domain ruled by a branch of the Date clan, known for its stable governance and coastal economy. In the late Edo period, it gained particular prominence under Date Munenari, who promoted modernization and reform. The domain also illustrates the broader monetary practices of the time, including the use of both official coinage and locally issued paper money.

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