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From [[1661]] until 1680, he was lord of the 250,000 ''[[koku]]'' fief of [[Tatebayashi han]] in [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke province]].<ref>''[[Kokudaka]]'' according to "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%A4%A8%E6%9E%97%E8%97%A9 Tatebayashi han]," ''Hanmei kyûkokumei ga wakaru jiten'' 藩名・旧国名がわかる事典, Kodansha 2011. Ackroyd's notes are contradictory, indicating 150,000 on p310, and 350,000 elsewhere.</ref>

From [[1661]] until 1680, he was lord of the 250,000 ''[[koku]]'' fief of [[Tatebayashi han]] in [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke province]].<ref>''[[Kokudaka]]'' according to "[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%A4%A8%E6%9E%97%E8%97%A9 Tatebayashi han]," ''Hanmei kyûkokumei ga wakaru jiten'' 藩名・旧国名がわかる事典, Kodansha 2011. Ackroyd's notes are contradictory, indicating 150,000 on p310, and 350,000 elsewhere.</ref>

Tsunayoshi succeeded his brother [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] to become shogun on 1680/8/23. His rule is described as being quite strict at times, but as also quite arbitrary, and Tsunayoshi is generally regarded as one of the least competent of the shoguns. Even so, the bureaucrats and administrators under him did well, maintaining the day-to-day governance of the nation, and Japan saw several decades of incredible prosperity before the bubble burst and real problems began to sink in.

Tsunayoshi succeeded his brother [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] to become shogun on 1680/8/23. His rule is described as being quite strict at times, but as also quite arbitrary, and Tsunayoshi is generally regarded as one of the least competent of the shoguns. Even so, the bureaucrats and administrators under him did well, maintaining the day-to-day governance of the nation, and Japan saw several decades of incredible prosperity before the bubble burst and real problems began to sink in. The first of Tsunayoshi's "Laws of Compassion" were issued in [[1687]]; in [[1708]], he issued a further series of edicts, obligating that all animals were to be kindly treated; that if horses got tired while being ridden, they were to be stabled and taken care of by whatever mansions are nearby; and that post-horses were not to be overtaxed, and were to be well taken care of in both shogunal and domain lands.<ref>Hakuseki, 287n150.</ref>

The first of Tsunayoshi's "Laws of Compassion" were issued in [[1687]]; in [[1708]], he issued a further series of edicts, obligating that all animals were to be kindly treated; that if horses got tired while being ridden, they were to be stabled and taken care of by whatever mansions are nearby; and that post-horses were not to be overtaxed, and were to be well taken care of in both shogunal and domain lands.<ref>Hakuseki, 287n150.</ref>

Tsunayoshi is also known, however, as a great patron of "Chinese studies" (''[[kangaku]]''), and of [[Obaku|Ôbaku]] [[Zen]], which was introduced to Japan during his reign. Tsunayoshi supported the ''kangaku'' scholars [[Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu]] and [[Ogyu Sorai|Ogyû Sorai]], and invited Chinese Zen monks, and Chinese and Japanese scholars of the [[Chinese classics]] to audiences and discussions. As shogun, he is said to have styled himself as both a devout Buddhist, and also taking after the Confucianist ideal of the [[sage-king]]. He also showed a great interest in Japanese imperial traditions, reviving the ''[[Daijosai|Daijôsai]]'' (harvest festival) ritual which had not been practiced since the 15th century, and sponsoring efforts to identify and restore Imperial tombs. Sixty-six of 78 tombs considered to be imperial tombs acquired their standard identifications as a result of the latter set of efforts, during Tsunayoshi's time.<ref>[[Marius Jansen]], ''China in the Tokugawa World'', Harvard University Press (1992), 60.</ref>

His son Tokumatsu died at age five in [[1683]]. Later in life, Tsunayoshi had no heir, and so in [[1704]] he named his nephew [[Tokugawa Ienobu]] his heir; Ienobu succeeded him as shogun following Tsunayoshi's death in 1709.

His son Tokumatsu died at age five in [[1683]]. Later in life, Tsunayoshi had no heir, and so in [[1704]] he named his nephew [[Tokugawa Ienobu]] his heir; Ienobu succeeded him as shogun following Tsunayoshi's death in 1709.