Changes

*''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]]."

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'').  

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

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

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.

In [[1708]], Tsunayoshi issued a series of edicts obligated that all animals were to be kindly treated; if horses get tired while being ridden, they were to be stabled and taken care of by whatever mansions are nearby; and, post-horses were not to be overtaxed, and were to be well taken care of in both shogunal and domain lands.<ref>Hakuseki, 287n150.</ref>

The first of Tsunayoshi's "Laws of Compassion" were issued in [[1687]]; in [[1708]], he issued a further series of edicts, obligating that all animals were to be kindly treated; that if horses got tired while being ridden, they were to be stabled and taken care of by whatever mansions are nearby; and that post-horses were not to be overtaxed, and were to be well taken care of in both shogunal and domain lands.<ref>Hakuseki, 287n150.</ref>

His son Tokumatsu died at age five in [[1683]]. Later in life, Tsunayoshi had no heir, and so in [[1704]] he named his nephew [[Tokugawa Ienobu]] his heir; Ienobu succeeded him as shogun following Tsunayoshi's death in 1709.

His son Tokumatsu died at age five in [[1683]]. Later in life, Tsunayoshi had no heir, and so in [[1704]] he named his nephew [[Tokugawa Ienobu]] his heir; Ienobu succeeded him as shogun following Tsunayoshi's death in 1709.