Kashima Domain
Encyclopedia
was a tozama
feudal domain
of Edo period
Japan
, located in Hizen Province
, Kyūshū
. Its territory was roughly equivalent to modern-day city of Kashima
in Saga Prefecture
.
, founded in 1610 for Nabeshima Tadashige, the younger brother of the first daimyō
of Saga Domain
, Nabeshima Katsushige
. Tadashige already had holdings of 5000 koku
in what is now part of Katori District, Chiba
, so the additional 20,000 koku from his brother made his total revenues 25,000 koku. Tadashige’s son Nabeshima Masashige became second daimyō of Kashima; however, Masashige was dispossessed in 1642 when Kashima domain was given by Nabeshige Katsushige to his own 9th son, Nabeshima Naotomo. Masashige was allowed to keep his father’s original 5000 koku holdings, and was reduced to the status of hatamoto
. Naotomo’s line continued to rule Kashima until the Meiji Restoration
, and was subject to the same Sankin kōtai
regulations as other domains. However, Kashima was not allowed to build a proper castle
, but instead only had a fortified house (jin'ya
). After the abolition of the han system
in 1871, the former final daimyō, Nabeshima Naoyoshi became a viscount
(shishaku) under the kazoku
peerage, and Kashima domain was absorbed into the new Saga Prefecture
.
Tozama
A ' was a daimyo who was considered an outsider by the rulers of Japan. The term came into use in the Kamakura period and continued until the end of the Edo period.-Edo period:...
feudal domain
Han (Japan)
The or domain was the name of the estate belonging to a warrior in Japan after the 17th century. The fiefs of the daimyos of the samurai class of Japan during the Edo period were called han.-Edo period:...
of Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, located in Hizen Province
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...
, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. Its territory was roughly equivalent to modern-day city of Kashima
Kashima, Saga
is a city located in the southern part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Kashima is located about 60 kilometers southwest of Saga City. It borders the Ariake Sea to the east and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest...
in Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
.
History
Kashima domain was originally a sub-domain of the Saga DomainSaga Domain
Saga Domain was a han, or feudal domain, in Tokugawa period Japan. Largely contiguous with Hizen Province on Kyūshū, the domain was governed from Saga Castle in the capital city of Saga by the Nabeshima clan of tozama daimyō...
, founded in 1610 for Nabeshima Tadashige, the younger brother of the first daimyō
Daimyo
is 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...
of Saga Domain
Saga Domain
Saga Domain was a han, or feudal domain, in Tokugawa period Japan. Largely contiguous with Hizen Province on Kyūshū, the domain was governed from Saga Castle in the capital city of Saga by the Nabeshima clan of tozama daimyō...
, Nabeshima Katsushige
Nabeshima Katsushige
' was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period. Born to Nabeshima Naoshige, he became lord of Saga-han.-Biography:...
. Tadashige already had holdings of 5000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
in what is now part of Katori District, Chiba
Katori District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.Since there is no population data since 2003, the post-Katori-Narita creation district had an estimated population of 40,260...
, so the additional 20,000 koku from his brother made his total revenues 25,000 koku. Tadashige’s son Nabeshima Masashige became second daimyō of Kashima; however, Masashige was dispossessed in 1642 when Kashima domain was given by Nabeshige Katsushige to his own 9th son, Nabeshima Naotomo. Masashige was allowed to keep his father’s original 5000 koku holdings, and was reduced to the status of hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
. Naotomo’s line continued to rule Kashima until the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, and was subject to the same Sankin kōtai
Sankin kotai
was 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...
regulations as other domains. However, Kashima was not allowed to build a proper castle
Japanese castle
' were fortresses composed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century...
, but instead only had a fortified house (jin'ya
Jin'ya
During the Edo period of Japanese history, a was the administrative headquarters of a small domain or parcel of land held by the Tokugawa shogunate, as well as the residence of the head of the administration, and the associated grain storehouse. While larger domains had castles, certain smaller...
). After the abolition of the han system
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
in 1871, the former final daimyō, Nabeshima Naoyoshi became a viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
(shishaku) under the kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage, and Kashima domain was absorbed into the new Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
.
List of daimyo
- Nabeshima clanNabeshima clanThe Nabeshima clan was a prominent Japanese samurai clan of Kyūshū which controlled Saga Domain from the late Sengoku period through the Edo period.The Nabeshima clan was a cadet branch of the Shōni clan and was descended from the Fujiwara clan...
(TozamaTozamaA ' was a daimyo who was considered an outsider by the rulers of Japan. The term came into use in the Kamakura period and continued until the end of the Edo period.-Edo period:...
)
| Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | Revenue | |
| 1 | 1609-1624 | Izumi-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 25,000 koku | |
| 2 | 1624-1642 | 6th (従五位下) | 25,000 koku | ||
| 3 | 1642-1672 | Izumi-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 4 | 1672-1705 | Bizen-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 5 | 1705-1727 | Izumi-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 6 | 1728-1763 | Bizen-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 7 | 1763-1770 | Izumi-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 8 | 1770-1801 | Bizen-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 9 | 1800-1820 | Tamba-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 10 | 1820-1839 | Tamba-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 11 | 1839 | none | none | 20,000 koku | |
| 10 | 1840-1848 | Bizen-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |
| 10 | 1848-1871 | Bizen-no-kami | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000 koku | |