The sumptuary law stated that 'merchants as well as artisans should always remember that they are to work so as not to inconvenience samurai and farmers,' thus labeling the development of the city itself useless and forcing severe restrictions on these classes of people.
「商工等は、武士・農民の事欠け申さざる程に渡世致し候はば然るべく候」として商工を非生産的な身分であり、都市が繁栄する事そのものが無駄以外の何者でもないと断じて厳しい奢侈禁止令を実施した。