Tokugawa Tsunayoshi

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (Japanese: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi/Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, Romanized: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, February 23, 1646 - February 19, 1709) was the fifth-generation shogun of the Edo shogunate in Japan. He served from 1680 to 1709. Tsunayoshi is the fourth son of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and his mother is his concubine, Ayu no Kata (Kaichoin). He was originally the lord of Tatebayashi Domain. He joined the Shogun's family in 1680 and died in 1709. He was given the title "Jōken-in Palace to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom". On the basis of inheriting the line of the previous regime, Tsunayoshi reformed the shogunate administration, promoting the shift of shogunate politics from "arbitrary" to "civilized governance" and the bureaucratization of samurai. He made clear rewards and punishments, severely punished the hereditary warriors who had nothing to do with their bodies, and promoted talents regardless of their origins. And committed to improving social atmosphere and educating people, Japan has ushered in one of the most glorious eras in history, the "Genroku Age". The economic scale of the Genroku era expanded rapidly, and the prosperous economy promoted the blooming of academic and artistic fields. Confucian scholar Ogiyo Sura, playwrights Ihara Saikaku/Chikamatsu Monzaemon, haiku comedian Matsuo Basho, painter/craftsman Ogata Korin and other geniuses in various fields who had a profound impact on later generations of Japan appeared in a spurt. In terms of improving social atmosphere and educating people, Tsunayoshi promulgated a series of laws based on the compassion of Buddhism and the benevolence of Confucianism, providing care and assistance to vulnerable groups in society such as the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, and providing care and protection to animals other than humans. This series of laws is known as the "Human Compassion Order." Evaluations of this series of laws in past historical descriptions and literary adaptations are mostly based on unidentified rumors, thus leaving a negative impression on people such as "weird and extreme animal protection laws." Because the political reforms touched the interests of the samurai class, Tsunayoshi was smeared as a arrogant, extravagant and indulgent king in the works of samurai scholars such as "Three Kings Gaiki", "Odaidaiki" and "Ori no Shiba noki". Later literary and artistic works often draw on such biased records as references. Since the end of the 20th century, modern Japanese history researchers such as Oishi Shinzaburo, Tsukamoto Manabu, Yamamuro Kyoko, and Nezaki Mitsuo have spoken highly of this outstanding monarch. In April 2023, Tokugawa Iehiro, the 19th generation head of the Tokugawa clan, publicly expressed his recognition and admiration for Tsunayoshi.