noun
town order (Edo period); official proclamation affecting a whole town
Historical term for an order issued by a shogun or daimyo and disseminated by town officials during the Edo period.
江戸時代には、町触れによって町人に法令が伝えられた。
During the Edo period, laws were communicated to townspeople through town orders.
この町触れは、火事の予防について細かく定めている。
This town order lays out detailed fire prevention rules.
御触書 is a more general term for an official proclamation or edict, while 町触れ specifically refers to orders affecting a town and passed on by town officials.
Compound of 町 (まち, 'town') and 触れ (ふれ, 'proclamation, notice'), from the verb 触れる (ふれる, 'to touch; to announce'). The term is specific to the Edo period administrative system.