In the Edo period, the lord of each domain tried to change the fief system of their vassal from a local enforcement system in which the land was provided directly for the vassal and the vassal collected tax individually into kuramaichigyo in which the lord of the domain collected rice and farm products collectively and provided them for their vassal who, in turn, changed them into money through a dealer, in order to extend their ruling power.
江戸時代になると、諸藩の藩主は、強大な統治権を得るために、家臣の知行を、土地を直接給付して独自に徴税を行わせる地方知行制から、藩が一括して徴税した米を中心とした農産物を家臣に給付して、その一部を商人を通じて換金させる蔵米知行に転換することを目指した。