翻刻
【右ページ】
被下も有之候得共現今門閥ニて在りし面々ハ
勿論小身末々迄之内ニハ元祖ゟ傳来之
重器旌旗鎧兜采幣團扇銘劔都而
武具馬具類幷感状褒賞其餘種々之
古書画着物等持傳候面々数多有之且又銘々
先祖ゟ之内於旧御藩奉仕中尋常之勤功
ニ而黙渉之外特別之尽力を以賜り候御書幷
拝領物所持之族数多有之尤数代之内格禄
之登下増減勝手之貧富ニ不關世襲家名相
續致来事ニ候然る處先年
【左ページ】
御一新之御趣迄ニ而士分之常識を解き佩刀
をも被禁士民混同金禄公債証を資本とし
農工商其余勝手次第之業ニ基候様被 仰出
ニ付族姓之義気を臆ニ嗜み暴勇弊習之
士気ハ廃し御旨趣件々を奉戴如何様にも
實着之目的を立活業可致筈之處厚き
御趣意を取違庶民一和愉快之散財
するを開化と心得誤永世之目的資本
とすべき公債証妄りニ賣却せしもある
よし又奸者ニ被欺商法ニ而家産を失へるも
現代語訳
【右ページ】
下された者もいたけれども、現在門閥にある面々は
もちろん、小身末々に至るまでの内には、元祖より伝来の
重器・旌旗・鎧兜・采幣・団扇・銘剣など、すべて
武具・馬具類並びに感状・褒賞その他種々の
古書画・着物等を持ち伝えている面々が数多くおり、かつまた銘々の
先祖より、旧御藩で奉仕中、尋常の勤功
ではなく黙って過ごすほかに、特別の尽力をもって賜った御書並びに
拝領物を所持する族が数多くいる。もっとも数代の内、格禄の
昇進降格・増減、勝手の貧富に関わらず、世襲の家名を相
続してきたことである。然るところ先年
【左ページ】
御一新の御趣旨により士分の常識を解き、佩刀
をも禁じられ、士民混同し、金禄公債証を資本とし
農工商その他勝手次第の業に就くよう仰せ出され
たことにより、族姓の義気を胸に嗜み、暴勇・弊習の
士気は廃し、御趣旨の件々を奉戴し、いかようにも
実着の目的を立て活業致すはずのところ、厚い
御趣意を取り違え、庶民一和・愉快の散財
することを開化と心得違い、永世の目的・資本
とすべき公債証をみだりに売却した者もある
由、また奸者に欺かれ商法で家産を失った者も
英語訳
【Right Page】
Though there were those who were dismissed from service, among those who currently belong to the established families,
not to mention those of lower ranks and their descendants, there are many who have inherited from their ancestors
precious implements, banners, armor and helmets, battle standards, war fans, famous swords, and all manner of
military equipment and horse gear, as well as letters of commendation, rewards, and various other
ancient paintings, calligraphy, clothing, and so forth. Moreover, there are many clans who possess written documents and
gifts bestowed upon their ancestors during service to the former domain, not for ordinary meritorious service
but for special dedication beyond merely performing their duties silently. Most importantly, over several generations, regardless of
promotions, demotions, increases or decreases in stipend, or personal wealth or poverty, they have continued
hereditary family names. However, in recent years
【Left Page】
due to the Restoration's policies, the conventional status of the samurai class was dissolved, even the wearing of swords
was prohibited, samurai and commoners were integrated, and it was decreed that they should use government bonds as capital
and engage in agriculture, industry, commerce, or any other occupation as they saw fit.
Accordingly, while cherishing the righteous spirit of their noble lineage and abandoning the warrior ethos of reckless bravery and corrupt practices,
they should have respectfully received these various policies and established practical objectives for making a living. However, some
misunderstood the benevolent intentions, thinking that spending money freely in harmony and pleasure with commoners
was civilization, and apparently some recklessly sold the government bonds that should have served as capital for perpetual purposes.
Others were deceived by swindlers and lost their family assets through commercial ventures.