Difference between revisions of "Tokugawa Iemitsu"

From SamuraiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
*''Born: [[1604]]/8/12''
 
*''Born: [[1604]]/8/12''
*''Died: [[1651]]''
+
*''Died: [[1651]]/4/20''
 
*''Japanese'': [[徳川]] 家光 ''(Tokugawa Iemitsu)''
 
*''Japanese'': [[徳川]] 家光 ''(Tokugawa Iemitsu)''
  
 
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shogun]]. His reign (1623-1651?) saw many of the key features of Tokugawa rule develop into their mature forms, as ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' was made regular and mandatory for all ''daimyô'', and the various policies of [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] were put into place. He also oversaw a notable expansion and solidification of Tokugawa authority, through acts such as the expansion of [[Nijo castle|Nijô castle]] and [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]].
 
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa shogun]]. His reign (1623-1651?) saw many of the key features of Tokugawa rule develop into their mature forms, as ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' was made regular and mandatory for all ''daimyô'', and the various policies of [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] were put into place. He also oversaw a notable expansion and solidification of Tokugawa authority, through acts such as the expansion of [[Nijo castle|Nijô castle]] and [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]].
  
Born in [[1604]], Iemitsu was the son of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and Lady [[Oeyo]] (aka Gô). His wet nurse, [[Kasuga no Tsubone]], is said to have played an influential role in ensuring he, and not his brother [[Tokugawa Tadanaga]], was named shogun.<ref>Dykstra, Yoshiko. The Shôgun's Woman: Lady Kasuga University of Hawaii, Center for Japanese Studies lecture. Honolulu, Hawaii. 9 November, 2006.</ref>
+
Born in [[1604]], Iemitsu was the son of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and Lady [[Oeyo]] (aka Gô). His wet nurse, [[Kasuga no Tsubone]], is said to have played an influential role in ensuring he, and not his brother [[Tokugawa Tadanaga]], was named shogun.<ref>Dykstra, Yoshiko. The Shôgun's Woman: Lady Kasuga University of Hawaii, Center for Japanese Studies lecture. Honolulu, Hawaii. 9 November, 2006.</ref> Tadanaga became lord of [[Kofu castle|Kôfu castle]]. Their sister [[Senhime]] was married to [[Toyotomi Hideyori]] and later to [[Honda Tadatoki]], while their other sister married [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]] and later came to be known as [[Tofukumon-in|Tôfukumon-in]].
  
He was named shogun on [[1623]]/9/27 as his father retired in his favor. Though said to have been "sickly and withdrawn" as a child, as shogun Iemitsu is described as a rather able and active administrator.<ref>Pitelka, 148.</ref>
+
Iemitsu was named shogun on [[1623]]/9/27 as his father retired in his favor. Though said to have been "sickly and withdrawn" as a child, as shogun Iemitsu is described as a rather able and active administrator.<ref>Pitelka, 148.</ref>
  
 
Following his renovation of Nijô castle, Iemitsu had a grand mausoleum erected for his father in [[1632]]. This mausoleum, called the [[Taitokuin Mausoleum]], stood within the grounds of the [[Tokugawa clan]] temple of [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]] in [[Edo]], and served a similar purpose to Nijô - as a demonstration of Tokugawa power, wealth, and prestige. Iemitsu's expansion of Nikkô Tôshôgû in [[1634]]-[[1636]] continued this discursive project. He also commissioned or otherwise was involved in expansion or renovation efforts at [[Toji|Tôji]], [[Ninna-ji]], [[Chion-in]], and a number of other notable temples.
 
Following his renovation of Nijô castle, Iemitsu had a grand mausoleum erected for his father in [[1632]]. This mausoleum, called the [[Taitokuin Mausoleum]], stood within the grounds of the [[Tokugawa clan]] temple of [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]] in [[Edo]], and served a similar purpose to Nijô - as a demonstration of Tokugawa power, wealth, and prestige. Iemitsu's expansion of Nikkô Tôshôgû in [[1634]]-[[1636]] continued this discursive project. He also commissioned or otherwise was involved in expansion or renovation efforts at [[Toji|Tôji]], [[Ninna-ji]], [[Chion-in]], and a number of other notable temples.
  
Iemitsu also visited Kyoto in 1634, for the occasion of the accession of his niece to the Imperial throne as [[Empress Meisho|Empress Meishô]]. This would be the last time a shogun would visit the Imperial capital until [[Tokugawa Iemochi]] in [[1863]], nearly 230 years later. While there, he enjoyed audiences with Empress Meishô and Retired [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]], and received [[Ryukyuan missions to Edo|ambassadors]] from the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Sometime later, Iemitsu dispersed many of the secondary buildings of the Nijô castle complex as gifts to Buddhist temples across the realm, reducing the impression of shogunal presence in the city.
+
''[[Wakadoshiyori]]'' were appointed for the first time in [[1633]]. That same year, Iemitsu issued further bans on [[Christianity]]; implemented changes to the [[red seal ships]] system requiring captains to now carry a ''hôsho'' license from the ''[[roju|rôjû]]''; and issued regulations regarding inheritance/succession practices among merchants and artisans. This might be taken as representative of many other years of Iemitsu's reign, as various policies were shifted, or first implemented, setting precedents and standards that would in many cases be followed for the remainder of the [[Edo period]].
  
Iemitsu had three sons. He was succeeded by the eldest, [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]], who was succeeded in turn by the next son, [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] (born to the [[Ooku|Ôoku]] concubine [[Keishoin|Keishôin]]). The third son, [[Tokugawa Tsunashige]], ruled as lord of [[Fuchu han|Fuchû han]] in [[Kai province]]. Iemitsu's daughters included [[Chiyohime]] (by his concubine [[Ofuri-no-kata (d. 1640)|Ofuri-no-kata]]), who went on to marry the second lord of [[Owari han]].<ref>[[Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum]] pamphlet.; Plaques on-site at Jishô-in Mausoleum at Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum.</ref>  
+
Iemitsu visited Kyoto in 1634, for the occasion of the accession of his niece to the Imperial throne as [[Empress Meisho|Empress Meishô]]. This was not Iemitsu's first trip to Kyoto; he went there in 1623 with his father and received a [[Ayutthaya|Siamese]] diplomatic mission at [[Fushimi castle]], and traveled to Kyoto with his father again in [[1626]]. This 1634 visit, however, would be the last shogunal journey to the Imperial capital until [[Tokugawa Iemochi]] in [[1863]], nearly 230 years later. While there, he enjoyed audiences with Empress Meishô and Retired [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]], and received [[Ryukyuan missions to Edo|ambassadors]] from the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. Sometime later, Iemitsu dispersed many of the secondary buildings of the Nijô castle complex as gifts to Buddhist temples across the realm, reducing the impression of shogunal presence in the city.
 +
 
 +
The following year, in [[1635]], Iemitsu oversaw the limiting of [[Chinese in Nagasaki|Chinese ships]] to [[Nagasaki]], the issuing of bans on Japanese overseas travel, a further fixing of the responsibilities of various Magistrates (''[[bugyo|bugyô]]'') in the service of the shogunate, the repromulgation of the ''[[buke shohatto]]'' (Various Laws for Warrior Households), and the implementation of the use of the term ''Nihon-koku [[taikun]]'' instead of ''Nihon kokuô'' ("King of Japan") in diplomatic exchanges. That year also saw Iemitsu judge allegations regarding falsified diplomatic documents in the [[Yanagawa Affair]].
 +
 
 +
Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu died on [[1651]]/4/20 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Tokugawa Ietsuna. Ietsuna would later be succeeded in turn by his brother (Iemitsu's second son), [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] (born to the [[Ooku|Ôoku]] concubine [[Keishoin|Keishôin]]). The third son, [[Tokugawa Tsunashige]], ruled as lord of [[Fuchu han|Fuchû han]] in [[Kai province]]. Iemitsu's daughters included [[Chiyohime]] (by his concubine [[Ofuri-no-kata (d. 1640)|Ofuri-no-kata]]), who went on to marry the second lord of [[Owari han]].<ref>[[Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum]] pamphlet.; Plaques on-site at Jishô-in Mausoleum at Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum.</ref>  
  
 
<center>
 
<center>

Revision as of 07:36, 20 April 2016

  • Born: 1604/8/12
  • Died: 1651/4/20
  • Japanese: 徳川 家光 (Tokugawa Iemitsu)

Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third Tokugawa shogun. His reign (1623-1651?) saw many of the key features of Tokugawa rule develop into their mature forms, as sankin kôtai was made regular and mandatory for all daimyô, and the various policies of maritime restrictions were put into place. He also oversaw a notable expansion and solidification of Tokugawa authority, through acts such as the expansion of Nijô castle and Nikkô Tôshôgû.

Born in 1604, Iemitsu was the son of Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and Lady Oeyo (aka Gô). His wet nurse, Kasuga no Tsubone, is said to have played an influential role in ensuring he, and not his brother Tokugawa Tadanaga, was named shogun.[1] Tadanaga became lord of Kôfu castle. Their sister Senhime was married to Toyotomi Hideyori and later to Honda Tadatoki, while their other sister married Emperor Go-Mizunoo and later came to be known as Tôfukumon-in.

Iemitsu was named shogun on 1623/9/27 as his father retired in his favor. Though said to have been "sickly and withdrawn" as a child, as shogun Iemitsu is described as a rather able and active administrator.[2]

Following his renovation of Nijô castle, Iemitsu had a grand mausoleum erected for his father in 1632. This mausoleum, called the Taitokuin Mausoleum, stood within the grounds of the Tokugawa clan temple of Zôjô-ji in Edo, and served a similar purpose to Nijô - as a demonstration of Tokugawa power, wealth, and prestige. Iemitsu's expansion of Nikkô Tôshôgû in 1634-1636 continued this discursive project. He also commissioned or otherwise was involved in expansion or renovation efforts at Tôji, Ninna-ji, Chion-in, and a number of other notable temples.

Wakadoshiyori were appointed for the first time in 1633. That same year, Iemitsu issued further bans on Christianity; implemented changes to the red seal ships system requiring captains to now carry a hôsho license from the rôjû; and issued regulations regarding inheritance/succession practices among merchants and artisans. This might be taken as representative of many other years of Iemitsu's reign, as various policies were shifted, or first implemented, setting precedents and standards that would in many cases be followed for the remainder of the Edo period.

Iemitsu visited Kyoto in 1634, for the occasion of the accession of his niece to the Imperial throne as Empress Meishô. This was not Iemitsu's first trip to Kyoto; he went there in 1623 with his father and received a Siamese diplomatic mission at Fushimi castle, and traveled to Kyoto with his father again in 1626. This 1634 visit, however, would be the last shogunal journey to the Imperial capital until Tokugawa Iemochi in 1863, nearly 230 years later. While there, he enjoyed audiences with Empress Meishô and Retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo, and received ambassadors from the Ryûkyû Kingdom. Sometime later, Iemitsu dispersed many of the secondary buildings of the Nijô castle complex as gifts to Buddhist temples across the realm, reducing the impression of shogunal presence in the city.

The following year, in 1635, Iemitsu oversaw the limiting of Chinese ships to Nagasaki, the issuing of bans on Japanese overseas travel, a further fixing of the responsibilities of various Magistrates (bugyô) in the service of the shogunate, the repromulgation of the buke shohatto (Various Laws for Warrior Households), and the implementation of the use of the term Nihon-koku taikun instead of Nihon kokuô ("King of Japan") in diplomatic exchanges. That year also saw Iemitsu judge allegations regarding falsified diplomatic documents in the Yanagawa Affair.

Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu died on 1651/4/20 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Tokugawa Ietsuna. Ietsuna would later be succeeded in turn by his brother (Iemitsu's second son), Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (born to the Ôoku concubine Keishôin). The third son, Tokugawa Tsunashige, ruled as lord of Fuchû han in Kai province. Iemitsu's daughters included Chiyohime (by his concubine Ofuri-no-kata), who went on to marry the second lord of Owari han.[3]

Preceded by:
Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Shogun
1623-1651
Succeeded by:
Tokugawa Ietsuna

References

  • Morgan Pitelka, Spectacular Accumulation, University of Hawaii Press (2016), 148-
  1. Dykstra, Yoshiko. The Shôgun's Woman: Lady Kasuga University of Hawaii, Center for Japanese Studies lecture. Honolulu, Hawaii. 9 November, 2006.
  2. Pitelka, 148.
  3. Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum pamphlet.; Plaques on-site at Jishô-in Mausoleum at Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum.