Maeda Nariyasu
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese daimyo
of the late Edo period
who ruled the Kaga Domain
.
in 1811, the 2nd son of the Kaga lord, Maeda Narinaga
. His childhood name was Katsuchiyo. His father retired in 1822, passing family headship to Nariyasu (who first took the adult name of Toshiyasu (利康)); however, Narinaga retained control of domain affairs until his death in 1824. Rather notably, Nariyasu later became the first Kaga lord since Toshitsune
to hold the high level court title of chūnagon
("middle councilor" 中納言). After his father's death, Nariyasu took personal control of Kaga's government, and implemented a policy of domainal reform. He was initially supportive of a conservative policy; however, after Commodore Perry
's arrival at Uraga
he was an active supporter of liberal policies and military modernization in the Kaga domain. As part of this policy, he founded the Nanao Shipyard (Nanao gunkanjo 七尾軍艦所).
Nariyasu was involved in much of the Kyoto-centered politics of the Bakumatsu period. He had entrusted a portion of the Kaga military to his brother and adopted heir Maeda Yoshiyasu
, who took part in the defense of the imperial palace during the Kinmon Incident
of 1864. However, Yoshiyasu did not put up a committed fight, and in defeat, chose to flee Kyoto
. Nariyasu, enraged, placed Yoshiyasu under solitary confinement, and ordered the seppuku
of the two Kaga domain elders
, Matsudaira Daini and Ōnoki Nakasaburō. Working with the castle warden Honda Masahito, he also confined the activities of the pro-sonnō jōi
samurai in the Kaga domain's castle town of Kanazawa
. He retired in 1866, and was succeeded by Yoshiyasu
; however, he retained personal control of the domain, very cautiously edging toward closer relations with Satsuma and Chōshū. Under Nariyasu's leadership, Kaga sided with them during the Boshin War
, and took part in the imperial army's military action in the Echigo Campaign.
Nariyasu died in 1884, at age 72; he is buried in Ishikawa Prefecture
.
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 the late 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....
who ruled the Kaga Domain
Kaga Domain
The was a powerful feudal domain in Kaga, Noto and Etchū Provinces of Japan during the Edo period. The domain was founded by Maeda Toshiie and headed by the Maeda clan. Its income rating, over 1,000,000 koku, was the highest in the nation after the Tokugawa shogunate itself...
.
Biography
Nariyasu was born in KanazawaKanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
in 1811, the 2nd son of the Kaga lord, Maeda Narinaga
Maeda Narinaga
' was a Japanese daimyo of the late Edo period who ruled the Kaga domain. He was the second son of the 9th Kaga lord, Shigemichi...
. His childhood name was Katsuchiyo. His father retired in 1822, passing family headship to Nariyasu (who first took the adult name of Toshiyasu (利康)); however, Narinaga retained control of domain affairs until his death in 1824. Rather notably, Nariyasu later became the first Kaga lord since Toshitsune
Maeda Toshitsune
was a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, who ruled the Kaga Domain. Toshitsune was a brother of Maeda Toshinaga and a son of Toshiie. Adopted as his heir, he became the wealthiest daimyo outside the Tokugawa. He controlled Etchū, Kaga, and Noto provinces....
to hold the high level court title of chūnagon
Chunagon
was a counselor of the second rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.The role was eliminated from the Imperial hierarchy in 701, but it was re-established in 705...
("middle councilor" 中納言). After his father's death, Nariyasu took personal control of Kaga's government, and implemented a policy of domainal reform. He was initially supportive of a conservative policy; however, after Commodore Perry
Commodore Perry
Commodore Perry may refer to:* Commodore Matthew Perry , United States Navy officer* Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry , United States Navy officer* Commodore Perry Owens , American gunfighter...
's arrival at Uraga
Uraga
is a subdivision of the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the south eastern side of the Miura Peninsula, at the northern end of the Uraga Channel, at the entrance of Tokyo Bay.-History:...
he was an active supporter of liberal policies and military modernization in the Kaga domain. As part of this policy, he founded the Nanao Shipyard (Nanao gunkanjo 七尾軍艦所).
Nariyasu was involved in much of the Kyoto-centered politics of the Bakumatsu period. He had entrusted a portion of the Kaga military to his brother and adopted heir Maeda Yoshiyasu
Maeda Yoshiyasu
' was a Japanese daimyo who was the last ruler of the Kaga Domain. He was the brother and adopted heir of Maeda Nariyasu ....
, who took part in the defense of the imperial palace during the Kinmon Incident
Hamaguri rebellion
The rebellion at the Hamaguri Gate of the Imperial Palace in Kyōto took place on August 20, 1864 and reflected the discontent of pro-imperial and anti-alien groups...
of 1864. However, Yoshiyasu did not put up a committed fight, and in defeat, chose to flee Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Nariyasu, enraged, placed Yoshiyasu under solitary confinement, and ordered the seppuku
Seppuku
is 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...
of the two Kaga domain elders
KARO
KARO 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:...
, Matsudaira Daini and Ōnoki Nakasaburō. Working with the castle warden Honda Masahito, he also confined the activities of the pro-sonnō jōi
Sonno joi
is a Japanese political philosophy and a social movement derived from Neo-Confucianism; it became a political slogan in the 1850s and 1860s in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu, during the Bakumatsu period.-Origin:...
samurai in the Kaga domain's castle town of Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
. He retired in 1866, and was succeeded by Yoshiyasu
Maeda Yoshiyasu
' was a Japanese daimyo who was the last ruler of the Kaga Domain. He was the brother and adopted heir of Maeda Nariyasu ....
; however, he retained personal control of the domain, very cautiously edging toward closer relations with Satsuma and Chōshū. Under Nariyasu's leadership, Kaga sided with them during the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
, and took part in the imperial army's military action in the Echigo Campaign.
Nariyasu died in 1884, at age 72; he is buried in Ishikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
.
Published work
(published posthumously)- Sarugaku menhai ron 申樂免廢論. Tokyo: Ishiguro Bunkichi 石黒文吉, 1934.
Further reading
- Ishikawa kenritsu rekishi hakubutsukan 石川県立歴史博物館 (1995). Kaga hanshu Maeda Nariyasu 加賀藩主前田斉泰. Kanazawa: Ishikawa Kenritsu Rekishi Hakubutsukan.