荘園領主は14世紀頃から「国人」という地方武士へと転じていっていました。
Since around 14th Century, the lords of the manor had been turning local Samurai called, “Kokujin”.
農民は惣村という自治体を形成していき、有力な惣村の長は地侍となっていっていました。
The farmers had been assembling and forming their autonomous villages, and some heads of powerful autonomous villages were turning native Samurai.
地侍は守護大名と主従関係を結び、地方政策に関する請願を守護大名に申し入れることができました。
Those heads of powerful autonomous villages had the master-servant relationship with Shugo feudal lords, and they could have petitions to their Shugo feudal lords regarding local policies.
請願が受け入れられなかった場合、惣村では寄合が開かれ、守護大名の邸宅に押しかけて抗議するか、惣村を棄て去るか、武装して「一揆」を起こして強訴するかが全村民の話し合いで決められました。
When their petitions were declined, every member of the village joined the meeting to discuss and to opt either to throng to their Shugo feudal lord’s mansion for a strike, to abandon their village, or to get armed to violently appeal by going on “Ikki”.
この点、一揆とは、共通の利益のために何らかの協力的な行動をとることをいいます。
Ikki means to take some cooperative action for their common interest.
