Term Translation

[Justin Grant]

What does the term Sabayonin mean?

[cabowen]

kanji please?

[NihontoEurope]

Hello,

 

Seems like - Yonin/four people and Saba/to judge

 

My conclusion:

A four person judgement or judged by four persons.

 

/Martin

[Markus]

saba-yônin (側用人) was an Edo-period office at the bakufu. It was an official

close to the shôgun who forwarded orders to the rank of elders for example.

A saba-yônin received a standardized rank- and office-based salary of 10.000 koku.

 

PS: There were also "smaller-scale" saba-yônin fulfilling this function locally at

various fiefs, i.e. forwarding orders of the lord of the fief.

[Justin Grant]

Hi All,

 

I think Markus hit it. I should have provided more information. It is part of my Samurai History Class at Indiana University. We are watching the 47 Ronin and one question is "Who is the shogun in the film? How is he portrayed? How is his sobayonin portrayed?"

 

Just was not familiar with the term.. Thanks for the help!

[NihontoEurope]

Justin,

 

Good!

 

I went for the "appraisal option" which I thought was lowest odds : )

 

/Martin