Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth Shogun of the Edo period, famously known as the Dog Shogun, was raised as a scholar rather than a warrior due to concerns that his lively nature might pose a threat to his elder brothers' positions. Despite his brother Ietsuna assuming the role of Shogun, his premature death at 39 sparked a power struggle that eventually led to Tsunayoshi being appointed as Shogun. Unlike his predecessors, Tsunayoshi relied heavily on the counsel of his mother rather than military advisors or regents.
Tsunayoshi's reign was marked by strict and unpopular laws influenced by his strong religious and Confucian beliefs. He implemented regulations such as the prohibition of red-light districts, the ban on the use of luxurious fabrics in daily life, and the restriction of women from working in tea houses. Displaying authoritarian control, he frequently seized lands and titles from the nobility and held lengthy sessions at Edo Castle where he lectured daimyo on neo-Confucianism and other religious doctrines.
Numerous natural disasters, including devastating typhoons and the eruption of Mount Fuji, occurred during Tsunayoshi's rule, alongside significant events like the Chushingura, or the 47 Ronin Incident. Additionally, being born in the Year of the Dog, Tsunayoshi issued decrees to protect dogs, making it a punishable offense to mistreat them, which earned him the moniker "Dog Shogun." His efforts resulted in a surge of stray dogs in Edo, leading to unpleasant odors permeating the city.
Tsunayoshi's patronage extended to the arts, particularly Noh theater. In 1692, he arranged for a Dutch embassy to observe foreign behavior, rewarding them with a Noh performance. His sudden death on February 19, 1709, just before his 63rd birthday, was attributed to measles, although some speculate that he was assassinated by his wife, possibly due to his controversial plans regarding his heir. He was succeeded by his nephew, Tokugawa Ienobu.
See also
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Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada (1557 – June 21, 1582) was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, known for his active role in several battles during Japan's Sengoku period. He led armies under his father's command in campaigns against Matsunaga Hisahide and the Takeda clan.
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Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Ujizane (1538 – January 27, 1615) was a Japanese daimyō who lived through the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He became the tenth head of the Imagawa clan, following in the footsteps of his father, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Ujizane was the father of Imagawa Norimochi and Shinagawa Takahisa.
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Hojo Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
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Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
