Kansei Reforms
Encyclopedia
The were a series of reactionary policy changes and edicts which were intended to cure a range of perceived problems which had developed in mid-18th century Tokugawa
Japan.
Matsudaira Sadanobu
was named the Shogun
's chief councilor (rōjū
) in the summer of 1787; and early in the next year, he became the regent for the 11th shogun, Tokugawa Ienari
. As the chief administrative decision-maker in the bakufu hierarchy, he was in a position to effect radical change; and his initial actions represented an aggressive break with the recent past.
Sadanobu's efforts were focused on strengthening the government by reversing many of the policies and practices which had become commonplace under the regime of the previous shogun, Tokugawa Ieharu
. The broad panoply of changes and new initiatives became known as the Kansei Reforms.
Sadanobu's policies could be interpreted as a reactionary response to the excesses of his rōju predecessor, Tanuma Okitsugu
. The result was that the Tanuma-initiated, liberalizing reforms within the bakufu and the relaxation of sakoku
(Japan's "closed-door" policy of strict control of foreign merchants) were reversed or blocked.
This reform movement was accompanied by three others during the Edo period: the Kyōhō reforms
(1716–1736), the Tenpō reforms
of the 1830s and the Keiō reforms (1866–1867).
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
Japan.
Matsudaira Sadanobu
Matsudaira Sadanobu
Japanese daimyo of the mid-Edo period, famous for his financial reforms which saved the Shirakawa Domain, and the similar reforms he undertook during his tenure as chief senior councilor of the Tokugawa Shogunate, from 1787 to 1793....
was named the Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
's chief councilor (rōjū
Roju
The ', usually translated as Elder, was one of the highest-ranking government posts in Tokugawa Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council as a whole; under the first two shoguns, there were only two Rōjū...
) in the summer of 1787; and early in the next year, he became the regent for the 11th shogun, Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari; 徳川 家斉 was the eleventh and longest serving shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office from 1787 to 1837.-First wife:...
. As the chief administrative decision-maker in the bakufu hierarchy, he was in a position to effect radical change; and his initial actions represented an aggressive break with the recent past.
Sadanobu's efforts were focused on strengthening the government by reversing many of the policies and practices which had become commonplace under the regime of the previous shogun, Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu (徳川家治 (June 20, 1737 – September 17, 1786) was the tenth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1760 to 1786.Ieharu was the eldest son of Tokugawa Ieshige, the ninth shogun.-Events of the Ieharu's bakufu:...
. The broad panoply of changes and new initiatives became known as the Kansei Reforms.
Sadanobu's policies could be interpreted as a reactionary response to the excesses of his rōju predecessor, Tanuma Okitsugu
Tanuma Okitsugu
' was a rōjū of the Tokugawa shogunate who introduced monetary reform. He was also a daimyo, and ruled the Sagara han. He used the title Tonomo-no-kami....
. The result was that the Tanuma-initiated, liberalizing reforms within the bakufu and the relaxation of sakoku
Sakoku
was the foreign relations policy of Japan under which no foreigner could enter nor could any Japanese leave the country on penalty of death. The policy was enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate under Tokugawa Iemitsu through a number of edicts and policies from 1633–39 and remained in effect until...
(Japan's "closed-door" policy of strict control of foreign merchants) were reversed or blocked.
This reform movement was accompanied by three others during the Edo period: the Kyōhō reforms
Kyoho Reforms
The were an array of economic policies introduced by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1736 Japan. These reforms were instigated by the eighth Tokugawa shogun of Japan, Tokugawa Yoshimune, encompassing the first twenty years of his shogunate....
(1716–1736), the Tenpō reforms
Tenpo reforms
The were an array of economic policies introduced in 1842 by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan.These reforms were efforts to resolve perceived problems in military, economic, agricultural, financial and religious systems....
of the 1830s and the Keiō reforms (1866–1867).
Chronology
The shogunate's interventions were only partly successful. Intervening factors like famine, floods and other disasters exacerbated some of the conditions which the shogun intended to ameliorate.- 1790 (Kansei 2): The shogunate issues an edict addressed to Hayashi Kinpō, the rector of the Edo Confucian Academy -- "The Kansei Prohibition of Heterodox StudiesKansei EdictThe Kansei Edict of 1790 was the enforcement of the Neo-Confucianism of Zhu Xi as the official Confucian philosophy of Japan...
" (kansei igaku no kin).
See also
- Kyōhō ReformsKyoho ReformsThe were an array of economic policies introduced by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1736 Japan. These reforms were instigated by the eighth Tokugawa shogun of Japan, Tokugawa Yoshimune, encompassing the first twenty years of his shogunate....
, 1716–1736 - Tenpō ReformsTenpo reformsThe were an array of economic policies introduced in 1842 by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan.These reforms were efforts to resolve perceived problems in military, economic, agricultural, financial and religious systems....
, 1830–1844 - Keiō Reforms, 1864–1867