1.
townsperson, merchant/artisan class
A member of the urban commoner class during the Edo period (1603-1868), comprising merchants (商人) and artisans (職人). In the four-tier social hierarchy, 町人 ranked below samurai, farmers, and artisans in theory, but many accumulated great wealth and developed a vibrant urban culture.
江戸には多くの町人が暮らしていた。
Many townspeople lived in Edo.
町人文化は江戸時代に大きく発展した。
Townspeople's culture developed greatly during the Edo period.
裕福な町人たちは歌舞伎や浮世絵といった芸術のパトロンとなり、独自の文化を育んだ。
Wealthy townspeople became patrons of arts such as kabuki and ukiyo-e, and cultivated a distinctive culture.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
In the Edo-period social hierarchy (士農工商), 町人 formally occupied the lowest rung. In practice, however, wealthy merchants often wielded considerable economic power and influence. The 町人 class drove the development of many cultural forms that define the Edo period, including 歌舞伎, 浮世絵, 落語, and 俳句.
USAGE:
Primarily a historical term. In modern Japanese, it appears mainly in discussions of Edo-period history and culture. Not used to describe present-day city dwellers.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 町人文化: townspeople's culture
- 町人階級: merchant/artisan class
- 裕福な町人: wealthy townspeople