德川幕府在江戶時代為了強化社會控制與維持政權穩定，實施一套名為「五人組」的制度。這套制度的設計精巧且嚴密，將基層民眾，主要是農民與町人，緊密綑綁在小型社群之中，透過集體監督、責任連坐以及懲罰機制，形成一種高效的社會控制網絡，確保地方治理與稅收的穩定。

五人組的基本運作方式是將鄰近的五戶人家編為一組，由一名「組頭」負責領導與管理，這個組織架構在功能上與中國古代的保甲制度有相似之處。每個組員必須密切監視其他成員的行為，一旦有人犯下罪行、逃亡或拖欠年貢，整個五人組都要承擔連坐責任，並受到懲罰。這種連坐制度不僅加強社會的監控，也讓個人不得不自覺遵守規範，以免牽連他人。

五人組制度的主要目的是多方面的。首先，在治安方面，它能有效防範盜匪、追捕逃亡農民，並嚴格控制宗教信仰，特別是針對當時禁止的基督教徒，透過互相告發來消除潛在的異教徒。其次，它保障稅收的穩定，防止農民因逃亡或棄地而造成稅收流失。最後，它塑造一種社會秩序與文化規範，使個人行為高度依賴社群標準，形成日本文化中「不給他人添麻煩」及強烈的集體同質性觀念的根源。

這套制度的運行極為嚴密，有效維持江戶幕府對基層社會的掌控，直到明治維新之後，隨著現代化改革的推進，五人組制度於1888年才正式廢止，結束其長達數百年的社會監控角色。

During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate implemented the “Gonin-gumi” system as a core mechanism for strengthening social control and maintaining political stability. This system was meticulously designed to tightly bind ordinary citizens—mainly farmers and townspeople—into small communal units, using collective oversight, shared responsibility, and punitive measures to form an effective social control network that ensured local governance and stable tax collection.

The basic operation of the Gonin-gumi was to group five neighboring households together, led by a head called the “kumi-gashira”. Structurally, this organization resembles China’s ancient Baojia system. Each member was required to closely monitor the others’ behavior, and if any individual committed a crime, fled, or defaulted on taxes, the entire group would bear collective responsibility and be punished. This mechanism not only enhanced social surveillance but also compelled individuals to comply with regulations to avoid harming others in their group.

The primary purposes of the Gonin-gumi system were multifaceted. First, in terms of public order, it effectively deterred banditry, tracked fleeing farmers, and strictly regulated religious practices—especially targeting Christians, who were prohibited at the time. Mutual reporting ensured that potential heretics could not hide within communities. Second, it safeguarded tax collection, preventing loss of revenue due to abandoned lands or fleeing peasants. Finally, it shaped societal norms, creating a social order where individuals’ behavior was strongly guided by communal expectations. This contributed to core elements of Japanese culture, such as the principle of “not causing trouble for others” and a strong sense of collective conformity.

The Gonin-gumi system operated with remarkable rigor and effectively maintained the Tokugawa shogunate’s control over the grassroots population. It remained in effect for several centuries until the Meiji Restoration, when modernization reforms led to its formal abolition in 1888, ending its long-standing role as a tool of social surveillance.