Reproduction and family building strategies in early modern Japan

Evidence from two northeastern farming villages

Bibliographic Data

ID12447484
AuthorsNoriko O Tsuya (0000-0003-0912-9436, Keio University, corresponding author), Satomi Kurosu (0000-0001-9341-0356, b Reitaku University , 2-1-1 Hikarigaoka, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8686 Japan, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume15
Issue4
Pages413-429
Publication date2010-08-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe History of the Family (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1081-602X • E-ISSN: 1873-5398
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/j.hisfam.2010.05.004
OpenAlexW1999424302
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited29

Drawing data from the local population registers called “ninbetsu-aratame-cho," this study examines the patterns and covariates of reproduction and family building in two farming villages in northeastern Japan in 1716–1870. Marriages in these villages were very early and universal for both sexes, but reproduction within marriage was very low, due in part to curtailment of reproduction at relatively young ages, but also to long intervals between recorded births. Stopping and spacing of family building were achieved primarily by an extensive use of sex- and parity-specific infanticide, which enabled peasant couples to control the size and gender-sequence of their progeny. Women's positions within their household and in the village also influenced their family building processes. Peasant couples in these preindustrial Japanese farming villages were active planners of their reproductive life

Agriculture · Biology · Geography · Peasant · Population · Reproduction · Social reproduction · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · Ecology

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