Sulfur and the Otomo Clan (1)

     The Otomo Clan fell at the end of the Warring State Period, and their records and documents have not been preserved well as the Shimazu Clan’s have.  We should make speculation from their scattered records and documents about where and how they procured their sulfur.

     The Otomo Clan moved from Eastern Japan to Bungo Province at the end of the 13th century.  We can find 2 documents left which imply how the clan’s control over sulfur progressed.  The 2 documents are the lists of the territories and the businesses which were under the direct control of the clan, or, more precisely, of the head family of the clan.  One document was recorded under Otomo Ujitoki (?-1368) in 1364, another was recorded under his second son, Chikayo (?-1418), in 1383.  There are listed the family’s estate, surrounding territories, important ports and stages, etc.