Hosokawa Shigekata
Encyclopedia
was a daimyo, 6th lord of Kumamoto of Hosokawa clan
, noted for successful financial reform of Kumamoto Domain
, for establishing Jishuukan
Han school
, Han
Medical School Saishunkan (school)
and new ideas of criminal law.
Hosokawa clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
, noted for successful financial reform of Kumamoto Domain
Kumamoto Domain
The was han or a Japanese feudal domain that was located in Higo Province apart from Kuma District and Amakusa District and part of Bungo Province . It was also known as...
, for establishing Jishuukan
Jishuukan
Jishuukan was the Han school of Kumamoto, Japan existing between 1755 and 1870. It was established by Hosokawa Shigekata, the 6th Hosokawa clan daimyo of Higo Province, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, inside Kumamoto Castle and this school is known for producing many noted scholars such as Yokoi Shounan, Inoue...
Han school
Han school
The han school was an educational institution in the Edo period of Japan, originally established to educate children of daimyo and their retainers in the domains outside of the capital...
, Han
Han
-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
Medical School Saishunkan (school)
Saishunkan (school)
Saishunkan was a han medical school, established by Hosokawa Shigekata in 1756 in Kumamoto, Japan. Internal medicine , surgery , ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, oral medicine, acupuncture, acupressure were taught....
and new ideas of criminal law.
Early life (1721–1747)
- His father, Hosokawa Nobunori, was the 4th daimyo of Hosokawa clanHosokawa clanThe ' was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from Emperor Seiwa and a branch of the Minamoto clan, by the Ashikaga clan. It produced many prominent officials in the Ashikaga shogunate's administration. In the Edo period, the Hosokawa clan was one of the largest landholding daimyo families in Japan...
, but his elder brother, the 5th daimyo, unfortunately was killed, because the family crest of another person was similar to that of the Hosokawa clan. Shigekata unexpectedly had to become the next lord and face financial difficulties of the Kumamoto HanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
. The deficits at the time of his father reached 400,000 ryo, TaelTaelTael can refer to any one of several weight measures of the Far East. Most commonly, it refers to the Chinese tael, a part of the Chinese system of weights and currency....
. The finance of his HanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
had worsened because of the policy of the edoEdo, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
bakufu which requested the Sankin kōtaiSankin kotaiwas a policy of the shogunate during most of the Edo period of Japanese history. The purpose was to control the daimyo. In adopting the policy, the shogunate was continuing and refining similar policies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1635, a law required sankin kōtai, which was already an established...
, and famineFamineA famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
. Shigekata himself had kept a card of a pawn shop in order not to forget his young hard days, for one reason because he was one of 21 children born of Hosokawa Nobunori.
The reform of Horeki
- In 1752, he appointed Hori Katuna the great BugyōBugyo', often translated as "commissioner" or "magistrate" or "governor," was a title assigned to government officers in pre-modern Japan; other terms would be added to the title to describe more specifically a given commissioner's tasks or jurisdiction....
, often translated as "commissioner" or "magistrate" or "governor," was a title assigned to government officers in pre-modern Japan. Hori immediately went to OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
to negotiate with Kohnoike family and others for loan, but the Osaka rich families refused to the request of Kumamoto hanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
. Then, Hori was successful in borrowing a huge sum of money from Kajimaya in return for the 100,000 koku or rice of KumamotoHanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
. Kajimaya requested considerable reduced financial policy of KumamotohanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
.- Originally, 100 koku of samurais meant 40 koku of rice,or the samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
obtained 40 %. After the reform, 20 koku per 100 koku went to a samurai, and then 13 koku, this meant a reduction of 65 %.- KokudakaKokudakarefers to a system for determining land value for tribute purposes in Edo period Japan and expressing this value in koku of rice. This tribute was no longer a percentage of the actual quantity of rice harvested, but was assessed based on the quality and size of the land...
(石高) or the system of koku refers to a system for determining land value for tribute purposes in Edo period Japan and expressing this value in koku of rice. This tribute was no longer a percentage of the actual quantity of rice harvested, but was assessed based on the quality and size of the land. The system was used to value the incomes of daimyoDaimyois a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
, or samurais under daimyoDaimyois a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
.
- Kokudaka
- Kumamoto hanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
wanted that samurais were satisfied with the reform of Horeki, and at the same time, they would train themselves as samurais. One was to build a school of hanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
for samurais and others. - Another idea was to rehabilitate those who were against the rules, and Shigekata started completely new criminal laws of the hanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
. - In addition, Shigekata and Hori started the production of washiWashiis a type of paper made in Japan. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub , or the paper mulberry, but also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat...
(Japanese paper), silk, and monopolized production of wax. They at times examined the land and its production (Kenchi, in Japanese). Toward the end of Horeki years （1751–1763), the financial status of the Han had greatly improved. - Preserved rice and CerealCerealCereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
helped the Han in the famine of TenmeiTenmeiwas a Japanese era name , also known as Temmei, after An'ei and before Kansei. This period spanned the years from April 1781 through January 1789. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
.
- Originally, 100 koku of samurais meant 40 koku of rice,or the samurai
Criticisms of the reform
- Because it was so radical, it was not without objections, especially by samurais.
- In 1772, Matsuno Hichizou, a metsukeMetsuke' were the censors or the inspectors of Tokugawa Japan. They were bakufu officials ranking somewhat lower than the bugyō. The metsuke were charged with the special duty of detecting and investigating instances of maladministration, corruption or disaffection anywhere in Japan; and particularly...
, pointed out three bad points of Hori. - In 1774, Masuda Yaichiuemon, criticized the Reform in 18 secret letters.
- Iguchi Souemon, a bugyoBugyo', often translated as "commissioner" or "magistrate" or "governor," was a title assigned to government officers in pre-modern Japan; other terms would be added to the title to describe more specifically a given commissioner's tasks or jurisdiction....
favoring the Reform, committed seppukuSeppukuis a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
because he was insulted by Nagaoka Mondo, who was against Hori. - Ariyoshi Daizen, a karoKAROKARO is a radio station licensed to serve Nyssa, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.It broadcasts a Contemporary Christian music format as part of the Air 1 network.-History:...
, made magic (paranormal)Magic (paranormal)Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
against Shigakata and Hori. - Furukawa Koshoken, a travel journalist, visited Kumamoto around the last of Shigekata years; he found a discrepancy between the life of ordinary people and the popularity of Shigekata, and wrote he believed that in Kumamoto, there was nothing good politically.
- In later years, Yokoi Shonan criticized the present situation in KumamotohanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
, in his Jimu Shian.
- In 1772, Matsuno Hichizou, a metsuke
Han School Jishuukan
- Shigekata established a famous Han schoolHan schoolThe han school was an educational institution in the Edo period of Japan, originally established to educate children of daimyo and their retainers in the domains outside of the capital...
, JishuukanJishuukanJishuukan was the Han school of Kumamoto, Japan existing between 1755 and 1870. It was established by Hosokawa Shigekata, the 6th Hosokawa clan daimyo of Higo Province, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, inside Kumamoto Castle and this school is known for producing many noted scholars such as Yokoi Shounan, Inoue...
within the campus of Kumamoto CastleKumamoto Castleis a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
in 1755. This school is known for producing many noted scholars in later years such as Yokoi ShounanYokoi Shounan; was a Bakumatsu and early Meiji period scholar and political reformer in Japan, influential around the fall of the Tokugawa bakufu. His real name was Yokoi Tokiari.- Life and career :...
, Inoue KowashiInoue KowashiViscount was a statesman in Meiji period Japan.- Early life :Inoue was born into a samurai family in Higo Province , as the third son of Karō Iida Gongobei. In 1866 Kowashi was adopted by Inoue Shigesaburō, another retainer of the Nagaoka daimyō...
and Kitasato ShibasaburoKitasato ShibasaburōBaron was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist. He is remembered as the co-discoverer of the infectious agent of bubonic plague in Hong Kong in 1894, almost simultaneously with Alexandre Yersin.-Biography:...
. It was open to any class of people, if admission was recognized, not only in Kumamoto people but also in other countries, with schlarships when students were very bright. There was no such system in other Han schools at this time.- At the most popular period, 255 schools were established in the Edo era in Japan, one in every Han or local country. Other famous schools of Han were Nisshinkan of Aizu, Kohjohkan of Yonezawa, Kohdohkan of Mito, MeirinkanMeirinkanwas a han school located in the Chōshū Domain of Japan. The school was one of the three major educational institutions in Japan, along with the Kōdōkan in Mito Domain and Shizutani School in Okayama Domain.- History :...
of Choshu, Shin-yukan of Nakatsu, Kohdohkan of Saga, Zohshikan of Satsuma were known, in addition to JishuukanJishuukanJishuukan was the Han school of Kumamoto, Japan existing between 1755 and 1870. It was established by Hosokawa Shigekata, the 6th Hosokawa clan daimyo of Higo Province, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, inside Kumamoto Castle and this school is known for producing many noted scholars such as Yokoi Shounan, Inoue...
.
- At the most popular period, 255 schools were established in the Edo era in Japan, one in every Han or local country. Other famous schools of Han were Nisshinkan of Aizu, Kohjohkan of Yonezawa, Kohdohkan of Mito, Meirinkan
Han Medical School Saishunkan
- He established the first public hanHan-China:* China , an abbreviation or adjectival modifier for things Chinese* Han Chinese , the dominant majority ethnic group of China and overseas Chinese...
medical school, Saishunkan (school)Saishunkan (school)Saishunkan was a han medical school, established by Hosokawa Shigekata in 1756 in Kumamoto, Japan. Internal medicine , surgery , ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, oral medicine, acupuncture, acupressure were taught....
in Miyaderamura, Akitagun (now Nihongi, Kumamoto in 1756 and the school was opened in the nex year. Its botanical garden was established in Yakuencho, Kumamoto.
Criminal laws of Kumamoto Han
- Another important reform he made was about the criminal laws. There had been only death penalty and exileExileExile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
as punishmentPunishmentPunishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
. Exile was changed to caningCaningCaning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
and penal labourPenal labourPenal labour is a form of unfree labour in which prisoners perform work, typically manual labour. The work may be light or hard, depending on the context. Forms of sentence which involve penal labour include penal servitude and imprisonment with hard labour...
. TattooTattooA tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
was changed to shaving the eyebrows, once in 5 days. His idea was to let them work for the Han, and rehabilitate them into society. His reform was made a model in Meiji restorationMeiji RestorationThe , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. Those who worked were given money in preparation for the days after punishment.
Biology and Hosokawa Shigekata
- In his later life, he was interested in biology, the records of plants and animals; which were said professional. An interesting animal, possibly drawn by a professional, (though he himself draw pictures), was Honshū WolfHonshu WolfThe Honshū Wolf, known in Japan as the , , or simply , is one of the two extinct subspecies of the Gray Wolf once endemic to the islands of Japan. The Honshū Wolf occupied the islands of Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū in Japan. The other subspecies is the Hokkaidō Wolf, native to the island of Hokkaidō...
which is now extinct.
Western-mania(Ran-heki)
- In his days, Western-mania daimyos were rare. He was known as a ran-heki daimyoDaimyois a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
. Other ran-heki daimyos include Shimazu Shigehide, Satsuma Domain,(1745 - 1833）and Shimazu NariakiraShimazu Nariakirawas a Japanese feudal lord of the Edo period, the 28th in the line of Shimazu clan lords of Satsuma Domain. He was renowned as an intelligent and wise lord, and was greatly interested in Western learning and technology...
, Satsuma Domain(1809–1858).