Incident of the Fourty-seven Rounin

Question 0

How would one characterize Ietsuna’s rule?

Answer 0

Contradictory appearances. On the surface tranquil and prosperous covering up stressed out Japanese leaders during the 1650s-60s.

Question 1

When did Tokugawa Ietsuna become shogun? Who is he?

Answer 1

Ietsuna is the son of Iemitsu. He become shogun in 1651 (until 1680 at death) at the age of 10 after his father died.

Question 2

What characterizes the tranquility of foreign relations during Ietsuna’s shogunate?

Answer 2

Incidences abroad of the Japanese stopped in the 1630s. Japan reframed from international involvement, particularly the Ming-Manchu problems in China except for in 1676 some export of munition to south Chinese insurgents.

Question 3

How would one characterize tranquility in domestic relationships?

Answer 3

Stabilization of bakufu-daimyo relations. Daimyo used to sankai koutai.

Question 4

What is sankin koutai?

Answer 4

Alternate attendance of the lords in Edo. Can be characterized as daimyo hostage practice. Lords move between castle towns and Edo o not the years and their wives and heirs live permanently in Edo. Established first by Iemistu and lasts until 1862.

Question 5

What is Han?

Answer 5

Daimyo domain

Question 6

What is the Meireki fire?

Answer 6

A fire that ravaged in 1657. Political impact in that it destroyed part of the castle and destroyed documents, distrusting admin and political process. Killed hundred of thousands of people. Edo not a lovely after.

Question 7

What is the “unprecedented dilemma” in 1651?

Answer 7

Lack of mature bakufu leader. Even when Ietsuna grows up, he relies much on stressed out advisors to try to keep the state afloat.

Question 8

What does the “collective nervousness” of the Ietsuna govt. cause?

Answer 8

Strong desire for ideological control and suppression of alternate ideas.

Question 9

Who is Yui Shousetsu?

Answer 9

The leader of a band of rounin who in 1651 tried to overthrow the government.