noun
Edo-period shogunate proclamation; official notice to the public
Historical term for a written edict or proclamation issued by the shogunate or a daimyo during the Edo period, typically addressed to the general populace. Often used in historical contexts.
See also: お達し
江戸時代には、幕府が御触書を出して農民に法令を知らせた。
During the Edo period, the shogunate issued proclamations to inform farmers of laws.
この御触書は、村の掲示板に貼り出された。
This official notice was posted on the village bulletin board.
お達し can also refer to an official notice or instruction, but is broader and can be used in modern contexts, while 御触書 is specifically a historical Edo-period proclamation.
Compound of honorific prefix 御 (お), 触 (ふれ, from 触れる 'to touch; to announce'), and 書 (がき, from 書く 'to write'). The term refers to a written announcement or edict.