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Shimazu Shigehide was the 25th head of the [[Shimazu clan]] and eighth [[Edo period]] lord of [[Satsuma han]], ruling the domain from [[1755]] to [[1787]]. He is known especially for his support for [[Rangaku|Western Studies]], and for his relatively open policies regarding travel and exchanges between Satsuma and other [[provinces]]. Whereas travelers were generally not permitted to enter within the borders of the domain for much of the Edo period, during Shigehide's reign this was relaxed.

Shimazu Shigehide was the 25th head of the [[Shimazu clan]] and eighth [[Edo period]] lord of [[Satsuma han]], ruling the domain from [[1755]] to [[1787]]. He is known especially for his support for [[Rangaku|Western Studies]], and for his relatively open policies regarding travel and exchanges between Satsuma and other [[provinces]]. Whereas travelers were generally not permitted to enter within the borders of the domain for much of the Edo period, during Shigehide's reign this was relaxed.

He was a son of [[Shimazu Shigetoshi]], and succeeded his father as head of the clan and of the domain in 1755, at age ten. Until he reached his majority in [[1760]] (at age 15), [[Shimazu Hisamoto]] served as an unofficial regent for the young ''daimyô''. Shigehide married in [[1763]], at the age of 18.<ref>Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, ''Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori'' 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 199.</ref>

He was a son of [[Shimazu Shigetoshi]], and succeeded his father as head of the clan and of the domain in 1755, at age ten. Until he reached his majority in [[1760]] (at age 15), [[Shimazu Hisamoto]] served as an unofficial regent for the young ''daimyô''. Shigehide married in [[1763]], at the age of 18.<ref>Miyagi Eishô 宮城栄昌, ''Ryûkyû shisha no Edo nobori'' 琉球使者の江戸上り, Tokyo: Daiichi Shobô (1982), 199.</ref> The following year, he accompanied a [[Ryukyuan mission to Edo]], and was elevated in court rank to Upper Junior Fourth Rank. This was the only such mission he escorted as active ''daimyô''.<ref>Yokoyama Manabu 横山学, ''Ryûkyû koku shisetsu torai no kenkyû'' 琉球国使節渡来の研究, Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (1987), 67.</ref>

It is said that Shigehide desired to bring more commerce and trade into the domain, and believed that greater merchant activity was essential for a prosperous [[jokamachi|castle town]]; as a result, he relaxed the domain's strict border policies, known as the strictest in the realm, and sometimes even referred to as "the closed country within the [[sakoku|closed country]]."<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> He showed a strong interest in European culture and knowledge, calling upon a number of [[VOC|Dutch]] factors to talk with him at [[Satsuma Edo mansion|his Edo mansion]], including [[Hendrik Doeff]] in [[1806]], [[Johannes Frederik van Overmeer Fisscher]] in [[1822]], and [[Philipp Franz von Siebold]] in [[1826]]. He is also said to have acquired some proficiency in writing in the Dutch language.

It is said that Shigehide desired to bring more commerce and trade into the domain, and believed that greater merchant activity was essential for a prosperous [[jokamachi|castle town]]; as a result, he relaxed the domain's strict border policies, known as the strictest in the realm, and sometimes even referred to as "the closed country within the [[sakoku|closed country]]."<ref>Gallery labels, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> He showed a strong interest in European culture and knowledge, calling upon a number of [[VOC|Dutch]] factors to talk with him at [[Satsuma Edo mansion|his Edo mansion]], including [[Hendrik Doeff]] in [[1806]], [[Johannes Frederik van Overmeer Fisscher]] in [[1822]], and [[Philipp Franz von Siebold]] in [[1826]]. He is also said to have acquired some proficiency in writing in the Dutch language.

Shigehide established a number of academic institutions within the domain, including a college for training in both military & literary arts in [[1773]], a medical college the following year, and in [[1779]], an astronomical observatory and mathematics academy called the Meiji-kan; later renamed [[Tenmonkan]], this site grew to become the chief center of urban culture in [[Kagoshima]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Tenmonkan.</ref> He also oversaw the construction of botanical gardens in Kagoshima and in Edo, for the study of herbs and medicines.

Shigehide established a number of academic institutions within the domain, including a college for training in both military & literary arts in [[1773]], a medical college the following year, and in [[1779]], an astronomical observatory and mathematics academy called the Meiji-kan; later renamed [[Tenmonkan]], this site grew to become the chief center of urban culture in [[Kagoshima]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Tenmonkan.</ref> He also oversaw the construction of botanical gardens in Kagoshima and in Edo, for the study of herbs and medicines.

In [[1827]], he established a treasure museum within his Edo mansion. In [[1832]], he celebrated his 88th birthday in [[Edo]]; that same year saw a [[Ryukyuan embassy to Edo]], which met with likely the greatest number of (retired, acting, and future) Shimazu lords ever gathered in one place, as Shigehide, his son the retired lord [[Shimazu Narinobu|Narinobu]], Narinobu's son the active lord [[Shimazu Narioki|Narioki]], and Narioki's heir at that time, [[Shimazu Nariakira]], were all present at the [[Satsuma Edo mansion|Shimazu Edo mansions]].

In [[1827]], he established a treasure museum within his Edo mansion. In [[1832]], he celebrated his 88th birthday in [[Edo]]; that same year saw another Ryukyuan embassy to Edo, which met with likely the greatest number of (retired, acting, and future) Shimazu lords ever gathered in one place, as Shigehide, his son the retired lord [[Shimazu Narinobu|Narinobu]], Narinobu's son the active lord [[Shimazu Narioki|Narioki]], and Narioki's heir at that time, [[Shimazu Nariakira]], were all present at the [[Satsuma Edo mansion|Shimazu Edo mansions]].

His concubines included [[Chima no kata]], eldest daughter of the court noble [[Tsutsumi Toshinaga]], whose direct descendants would include the famous [[Atsuhime]].<ref>Plaque at grave of Chima no kata, [[Shojoke-in|Shôjôke-in]], Teramachi-dôri, Kyoto.</ref> Shigehide's children included his successor as lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Narinobu ([[1774]]-[[1841]]), as well as three other sons who were adopted into other ''daimyô'' families and became lords of their own domains. These were [[Shimazu Masataka]] (lord of [[Nakatsu han]] in [[Buzen province]], adopted by [[Okudaira Masao]]), [[Shimazu Narihiro]] (lord of [[Fukuoka han]], adopted by [[Kuroda Narikiyo]]), and [[Shimazu Nobuyuki]] (lord of [[Hachinohe han]], adopted by [[Nanbu Nobumasa]]). Shigehide's daughter [[Kodai-in|Shige-hime]], meanwhile, was married into the [[Tokugawa clan]], becoming the chief wife of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ienari]].<ref>''Kaiyô kokka Satsuma'' 海洋国家薩摩, Kagoshima: Shôkoshûseikan (2010), 58-59.</ref> After becoming father-in-law to the shogun, Shigehide requested and received special privileges when visiting [[Edo castle]], including having the way cleared for him of other people (including other ''daimyô'' and their retainers) as he made his way from the palanquin-dismounting place to the ''genkan'' (entrance foyer) of the ''honmaru'' palace.<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Edo jidai - shogun bushi tachi no jitsuzô'', Tokyo shoseki (2008), 70-71.</ref>

His concubines included [[Chima no kata]], eldest daughter of the court noble [[Tsutsumi Toshinaga]], whose direct descendants would include the famous [[Atsuhime]].<ref>Plaque at grave of Chima no kata, [[Shojoke-in|Shôjôke-in]], Teramachi-dôri, Kyoto.</ref> Shigehide's children included his successor as lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Narinobu ([[1774]]-[[1841]]), as well as three other sons who were adopted into other ''daimyô'' families and became lords of their own domains. These were [[Shimazu Masataka]] (lord of [[Nakatsu han]] in [[Buzen province]], adopted by [[Okudaira Masao]]), [[Shimazu Narihiro]] (lord of [[Fukuoka han]], adopted by [[Kuroda Narikiyo]]), and [[Shimazu Nobuyuki]] (lord of [[Hachinohe han]], adopted by [[Nanbu Nobumasa]]). Shigehide's daughter [[Kodai-in|Shige-hime]], meanwhile, was married into the [[Tokugawa clan]], becoming the chief wife of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ienari]].<ref>''Kaiyô kokka Satsuma'' 海洋国家薩摩, Kagoshima: Shôkoshûseikan (2010), 58-59.</ref> After becoming father-in-law to the shogun, Shigehide requested and received special privileges when visiting [[Edo castle]], including having the way cleared for him of other people (including other ''daimyô'' and their retainers) as he made his way from the palanquin-dismounting place to the ''genkan'' (entrance foyer) of the ''honmaru'' palace.<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Edo jidai - shogun bushi tachi no jitsuzô'', Tokyo shoseki (2008), 70-71.</ref>