Tokugawa Tsunayoshi

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (徳川 綱吉 February 23, 1646-February 19, 1709) was the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, thus making him the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Early Rule of Shogun Tsunayoshi (1680-1694)

Immediately after becoming shogun, Tsunayoshi gave Hotta Masatoshi the title of Tairo, in a way thanking him for ensuring his succession. Almost immediately after he became shogun, he ordered a vassal of the Takata to commit suicide because of misgovernment, showing his strict approach to the samurai code. He then confiscated his fief of 250,000 koku. During his reign, he would confiscate a total of 1,400,000 koku.

Related Topics:
Tairo - Takata

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In 1682, Shogun Tsunayoshi ordered his censors and police to raise the living standard of the people. Soon, prostitution was banned, waitresses could not be employed in teahouses, and soon rare and expensive fabrics were banned. Most probably, smuggling began as a practice in Japan soon after Tsunayoshi's authoritarian laws came into effect. In 1684, Tsunayoshi also decreased the power of the tairo after the assasination of Masatoshi by a cousin in that same year.

Related Topics:
1682 - 1684

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Nonetheless, due again to maternal advice, Tsunayoshi became very religious, promoting the Neo-Confucianism of Chu Hsi. In 1682, he read to the daimyo an exposition of the Great Learning, which would become an annual tradition at the shogun's court. He soon began to lecture even more, and in 1690 lectured about Neo-Confucian work to daimyo, Shinto and Buddhists alike, and even envoys from the court of Emperor Higashiyama in Kyoto. He also was interested in several Chinese works, namely The Great Learning by Ta Hsieh and The Classic of Filial Piety by Hsiao Ching. Tsunayoshi also loved art and the No drama.

Related Topics:
Neo-Confucianism - Chu Hsi - 1682 - 1690 - Higashiyama - Kyoto - Ta Hsieh - Hsiao Ching - No

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In 1691, Engelbert Kaempfer visited Edo as part of the annual Dutch embassy from Deshima in Nagasaki.He journeyed from Nagasaki to Osaka, to Kyoto, and there to Edo. Kaempfer gives us information on Japan during the early reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. As the Dutch embassy entered Edo in 1692, they asked to have an audience with Shogun Tsunayoshi. While they were waiting for approval, a fire destroyed six hundred houses in Edo, and the audience was postponed. Tsunayoshi and several of the ladies of the court sat behind reed screens, while the Dutch embassy sat in front of them. Tsunayoshi took an interest in Western matters, and apparently asked them to talk and sing with one another for him to see how Westerners behaved. Tsunayoshi later put on a No drama for them.

Related Topics:
1691 - Engelbert Kaempfer - Dutch - Deshima - Nagasaki - 1692

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