Economics in Gensokyo

[Polaris]

I think there are just many tengu working for the same newspaper, Bunbunmaru. A real world newspaper needs loads of staff after all. Besides reporters, there need to be filers, writers, secretary's, management, bookkeeping and much more. These positions are all available for the Tengu to use.

I'm pretty sure she runs the Bunbunmaru Newspaper all by herself, but I suppose there's nothing really there to back it up, other than Aya actually doing everything on her own. However, there are definitely more newspapers from the tengu than just Aya's:

And there were a lot of newspapers scattered all around that didn?t seem to understand that. That?s because until recently there was a tengu news tournament going on. This tournament is not a new thing, but this year it showed an unprecedented uprush, and at the same time, the tengu newspapers seemed to permeate every academic aspect of Gensokyo.

[Tonepoet]

Even if nothing substantial comes of it, conjecture in and of itself can be fun. I believe the canon's indefinitiveness is part of why the Touhou fan base is so productive; Gensokyo's just such a malleable setting to work with.

If I recall correctly, currency is a concept that dates back to at least to Babylonian times, so it'd really be a more of a marvel if Gensokyo didn't have or develop it. Most of it is probably old human coinage left behind from when they were sealed in, and probably remained in use due to the increased simplicity in barter it provides, already being habitually instilled by the former government. Alternatively it could've been reworked out with whatever system of law that keeps the human village a society

I've been told that Remilia herself claims to be a descendent of Vlad Tepes A.K.A. Dracula, which is supposedly a lie. Regardless, I find that some sort of noble ancestry along these lines is highly likely considering that people who've had wealth in the past, are usually born into it. Therefore it's highly likely that Remilia herself very well may've done nothing at all to earn her wealth and may be living upon the incomprehensibly vast wealth already found within its walls.

If The Dead Princess is making an income, I'd find it likely that it's a highly feudalistic system that's in place, considering that the Scarlet Devil Mansion seems at least vaguely based upon medieval europe. I'd imagine that it's a serfdom of sorts, with Remilia being the equivalent of a Duchess, with her claim over the land automatically indebting a small number of vassals and serfs to farm crops and perform other menial tasks, in turn providing her with resources for trade. She doesn't seem like the sort who'd be adverse to this sort of idea, since she seems to have a small number of people living in her home already in exchange for their servitude already. Sakuya in particular acts as if she had pledged her undying loyalty to Remilia, which is more or less the very definition of what a Vassal is.

This brings about an interesting theory. If Remilia is lying about her ancestry, this could very well be the reason why. Remilia may very well could be a false queen, taking advantage of her vampiric traits to create the illusion of legitimacy to Lord Vladmir's domain. Just a thought.

[OkashiiKisei]

I've been told that Remilia herself claims to be a descendent of Vlad Tepes A.K.A. Dracula, which is supposedly a lie. Regardless, I find that some sort of noble ancestry along these lines is highly likely considering that people who've had wealth in the past, are usually born into it. Therefore it's highly likely that Remilia herself very well may've done nothing at all to earn her wealth and may be living upon the incomprehensibly vast wealth already found within its walls.

This may very well be the case. I assumed most of her wealth (and her mansion) was inherited by her from her family. My only problem is that she doesn't have any 'peasants' to charge taxes on or some kind of bank that frequently gives her back interest. She might live careless now, but eventually, it's going to run out. Since we have already established most if not all Remi's minions are being payed with food and a roof, that greatly lowers the costs, and the amount of servants can very well maintain the house.
But Remilia seems like the type to purchse lots of luxury, which, of course, is going to cost alot. Sakuya and Meiling need food too, (fairies don't need to eat, same goes for Patchy), and the utensils Sakuya uses to prepare Remi's and Flan's meals are going to need replacements sometimes (cutting through the flesh and bone of corpses is going to give the equipment some damage). And the repairs needed after our infamous Miko's and Witch's  rampage through the house require materials.

All in all, I just fear Remi might get broke eventually, may that be in hundreds of years or in several months.
So that's why I think Patchy helps her out sometimes. An elemental sorceress could easily help with all kinds of problems, including money making.

[Aya Reiko]

Date the barrier went up: 1888 (Meiji 17)
Beginning of the Meiji Restoration: 1868

The Meiji Restoration had been going for about 20 years prior to the erection of the barrier.  At that point most of the reforms had been in place and Japan was in the middle of industrialization.  Prior to the Restoration, only samurai could have surnames.  The Restoration changed this by requiring everyone having a surname.  The feudal Han System was abolished in 1871, and virtually all vestiges of the feudal system were gone by 1888.  Also in 1871, the Yen came into existence.  Tokugawa coinage was long out of circulation by 1888.

- -

ZUN has already said Remi is lying about her connections to Dracula.

[_Zac_]

I believe that the human village would be the only place where money matters.

I'm pretty sure SDM doesn't pay property tax because what would you do if they refused?

[Ghaleon]

Geeze you guys, it's a common fact that any problem can be solved by throwing money at it. Therefore, in Gensokyo, the currency is bullets, DUH.

[OkashiiKisei]

I'm pretty sure SDM doesn't pay property tax because what would you do if they refused?

What I meant was that if Remilia had any lordship over a number of people (like farmers, shopkepers or other working residents) she could, like a lord used to do ages ago, demand her underlings to give a part of their income to her, aka demanding taxes. This would make sure Remilia won't lose her family fortune, instead expanding it. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any underlings working outside the mansion, so she can't demand taxes.
On the other end of the scale, nobody else would have the balls to demand taxes from her, since she and her troupe could easily obliterate anyone foolish enough to do so.

[beaver1231]

What I meant was that if Remilia had any lordship over a number of people (like farmers, shopkepers or other working residents) she could, like a lord used to do ages ago, demand her underlings to give a part of their income to her, aka demanding taxes. This would make sure Remilia won't lose her family fortune, instead expanding it. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any underlings working outside the mansion, so she can't demand taxes.
On the other end of the scale, nobody else would have the balls to demand taxes from her, since she and her troupe could easily obliterate anyone foolish enough to do so.

Unless your name is Reimu Hakurei. By then Remi may give it to her for free.

Geeze you guys, it's a common fact that any problem can be solved by throwing money at it. Therefore, in Gensokyo, the currency is bullets, DUH.

How rich do you think Komachi is?

[Tengukami]

Government in Gensokyo would seem to consist of the Spell Card Rules, between humans and youkai, with goddesses and more powerful beings overseeing them all. This arrangement is anything but tidy, as we know. So the economy is probably based mostly on the barter system.

As to Gensokyo's size: it might be a few dozen km's in diameter, but maybe it's shaped like Chile - longer than it is wide.