Changes

*''Born: [[1646]]''

*''Born: [[1646]]''

*''Died: [[1709]]/1/10''

*''Died: [[1709]]/1/10''

*''Japanese'': [[徳川]]綱吉 ''(Tokugawa Tsunayoshi)''

*''Japanese'': [[徳川]]綱吉 ''(Tokugawa Tsunayoshi)''

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was the fifth [[shogun]] of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], ruling from [[1680]]/8/23 until his death from smallpox on [[1709]]/1/10. He was the son of third shogun [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and shogunal concubine [[Keishoin|Keishôin]]. Tsunayoshi is known chiefly for his "[[Kindness to Animals Decrees]]" (''shôrui awaremi no rei'').  

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was the fifth [[shogun]] of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], ruling from [[1680]]/8/23 until his death from smallpox on [[1709]]/1/10. He was the fourth son of third shogun [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and shogunal concubine [[Keishoin|Keishôin]]. Tsunayoshi is known chiefly for his "[[Kindness to Animals Decrees]]" (''shôrui awaremi no rei''), and is thus often known as the "Dog Shogun" (''Inu kubô'').

Early in his life, he was lord of the 350,000 ''[[koku]]'' fief of [[Tatebayashi han]] in [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke province]].

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.