Samurai and Money

In theory, Rokugani samurai should not often need to interact with currency. They are retainers to their lord, who should provide them with the things they need to serve to the best of their abilities. Some samurai— particularly traditionalists—see money as unclean, or at least uncouth, and generally beneath their station.

In practice, however, currency is tremendously useful. Whether one is a daimyō attempting to wage a war or a low-ranking samurai tasked with an arduous journey to deliver a letter to a local ally, there are many occasions when having money makes life much easier. While a daimyō can call upon alliances and oaths to rally troops, levying soldiers goes far faster if one offers immediate compensation. While even the lowest samurai can order peasants in their lord’s lands to support them on their journeys and then to appeal to the local magistrates for compensation, said peasants will be much more helpful if they feel they are being treated fairly—and money goes a long way towards that. And, of course, criminals and mercenaries often refuse to deal in anything but a bag of koku and bu.