− | Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth [[shogun]] of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], reigning from [[1716]] to [[1745]]. | + | Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth [[shogun]] of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], reigning from [[1716]] to [[1745]]. He was the third son of [[Tokugawa Mitsusada]] of the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kishû Tokugawa clan]], and succeeded his father as lord of the 555,000 ''[[koku]]'' domain of [[Wakayama han]] in [[1705]]. |
− | He was the third son of [[Tokugawa Mitsusada]] of the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kishû Tokugawa clan]], and succeeded his father as lord of the 555,000 ''[[koku]]'' domain of [[Wakayama han]] in [[1705]].
| + | Yoshimune is known for taking a more proactive tack in effecting shogunate control over many facets of the economy of the realm. Among his many policies, he effected a dramatic increase in the domestic production of [[sugar]], [[silk]], and [[ginseng]], three goods which had previously been heavily imported, as part of efforts to stem the outflow of [[silver]] from the country.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 49-50.</ref> He also imposed a variety of [[sumptuary laws]], and granted authorization to merchant groups to form ''[[kabunakama]]'', groups which paid the shogunate fees in exchange for monopoly rights to production and distribution of certain goods.<ref>Hellyer, 86.</ref> |
− | Among his many policies, he effected a dramatic increase in the domestic production of [[sugar]], [[silk]], and [[ginseng]], three goods which had previously been heavily imported, as part of efforts to stem the outflow of [[silver]] from the country.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 49-50.</ref> | |