Matsura Shigenobu (1622-1703)

Portrait of Matsura Shigenobu. Matsura Historical Museum, Hirado.

Shigenobu's grave at Yûkô-ji temple in Hirado

• Born: 1622
• Died: 1703
• Other Names: 松浦重信 (Matsura Shigenobu), 天祥公 (Tenshou kou)
• Japanese: 松浦鎮信 (Matsura Shigenobu, Matsura Chinshin)

Matsura Shigenobu was the 29th head of the Matsura clan and fourth Edo period lord of Hirado han.

He was the first lord of Hirado han to be born in Edo. He traveled to Hirado for the first time in 1637. Four years later, in 1641, the Tokugawa shogunate ordered the Dutch East India Company factory at Hirado shuttered and relocated to Dejima in Nagasaki. This dealt a major blow to the domain's economy, but Shigenobu was able to lead the domain through various economic reforms that successfully adapted to the situation; in 1667, the shogunate formally recognized and honored him for these accomplishments.

Shigenobu was close with thinker Yamaga Sokô and led his retainer band in adopting Yamaga-style tactics and training.

He was also an avid practitioner of tea ceremony, founding his own school of buke cha ("warrior tea," i.e. as opposed to the mainstream Senke and Mushanokôji schools of tea) which spread widely and is still practiced today.

Preceded by: Matsura Takanobu

Lord of Hirado han (1637-1689)

Succeeded by: Matsura Takashi

References

• Gallery labels, Matsura Shiryôkan, Hirado.