These people engaged in work that was considered dirty and uncivilised (although sometimes necessary) such as acting, undertaking, butchery, tanning and collecting fertiliser for use on the farming fields. These people were the hinin (非人- non-people) or the eta (穢多- Filthy Ones). There were also a class of people who were not considered worthy of being part of society. However, from the fourteenth century, local and regional markets were the lifeblood of many communities and were a valuable source of income for local authorities for the tax revenue they could generate. They were looked upon with disdain as they profited from the work of others without producing anything. Become a Friend of the National LibraryĪt the bottom of the social pyramid were the merchants.
