The Dog Shogun

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who was born at Edo Castle on February 23, 1646, became one of Japan's most intriguing historical figures. As the fourth son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun, his rise to power did not follow the normal route of his predecessors. Tsunayoshi, known as Tokumatsu as a kid, rose from a young prince to become the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. His story is one of political savvy, scholastic endeavor, and contentious government. Tsunayoshi and his third brother, Nagamatsu, were gifted with 150,000 koku from several regions in April 1651, propelling them up the Tokugawa clan's convoluted structure. This transfer occurred at a pivotal time, since their father, Iemitsu, died the same year, and their oldest brother, Ietsuna, seized the shogunate. By August 1653, Tsunayoshi had received the "tsuna" epithet at his Genpuku ceremony, a rite of passage into manhood, and had begun his public life as Tsunayoshi, setting him on a road that would eventually bring him to Japan's peak of power. Despite the early award of a domain and important posts under the shogunate, Tsunayoshi's substantial political climb occurred after a succession of family and national disasters. Ietsuna's death in 1680 without a male successor created a power vacuum, which Tsunayoshi filled by becoming shogun and beginning a reign known for both its accomplishments and scandals. Tsunayoshi's leadership was distinguished by his intellectual bent, which was highly inspired by Confucian ideas imparted by his father. He advocated for education and intellectual pursuits, founding the Yushima Seido to encourage Confucian study. His reign, especially in its early years, was notable for its emphasis on civic government, the abolition of the Sengoku period's terrible legacy, and the prioritization of moral virtue above military might. One of the most notable and disputed features of Tsunayoshi's reign was the issue of the Edict of Compassion for Living Creatures, which expressed his strong Buddhist and Confucian convictions in nonviolence and reverence for life. This order, typically seen through the perspective of current animal rights, was groundbreaking at the time, but it also caused economic pressure and popular displeasure, adding to Tsunayoshi's mixed legacy. His final years were marred by the loss of important advisers, like as Masatoshi Hotta, and the dependence on less experienced courtiers, which resulted in "bad government" as some historians put it. Despite this, Tsunayoshi was able to preserve the shogunate's power and handle the complications of succession and domain politics, preserving the continuity of Tokugawa control. The succession question, which is a continual worry for every reigning dynasty, was handled by appointing his nephew, Tsunatoyo, as the sixth shogun, assuring the Tokugawa lineage's continuance. Tsunayoshi's death from adult measles on January 10, 1709, marked the end of a reign that had a considerable influence on Japan's cultural and political environment throughout the Edo period. Tsunayoshi's policies, particularly the Edict of Compassion for Living Creatures, were soon reversed after his death, yet his impact remained. His nephew and successor, Ienobu, and succeeding shoguns like as Yoshimune, admired Tsunayoshi's administration philosophy and incorporated his ideas into their reforms. Tsunayoshi's reign, known for its academic focus and the contentious animal protection decree, shows the complexity of leadership during a time of tremendous cultural and political change in Japan. His legacy, a mix of enlightenment and controversy, emphasizes the difficulties of administering a varied and evolving population, making him a figure of ongoing importance in the study of Japan's feudal period.