Matsukura Shigemasa
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese feudal lord of the late Sengoku and early Edo
periods. He held the title of Bingo no Kami and the Imperial court rank of junior 5th, lower grade (ju-go i no ge). Though he began as a retainer of Tsutsui Sadatsugu
of Yamato Province
, he became a lord in his own right, acquiring the 60,000 koku domain of Shimabara
in Kyushu
, in 1600. He is most famous for being the lord whose domain was the epicenter of the Shimabara Rebellion
of 1638.
, the son of Matsukura Ukon Shigenobu, a retainer of the Tsutsui clan
. However, following the death of Tsutsui Junkei
, the Tsutsui clan
was moved to Iga Province
, and the Matsukura remained in Yamato, coming under the supervision of the Toyotomi clan
. In 1600 he fought in the Battle of Sekigahara
, and for his merits was awarded lordship of Gojo-Futami Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu
. For his meritorious actions in the Tokugawa army at the Domyoji front of the Osaka Summer Campaign, he was awarded an increase in stipend and was transferred in 1616 to Hinoe in Hizen Province
, a 43,000 koku domain formerly belonging to Arima Harunobu
.
, Shigemasa dismantled his two castles of Hara and Hinoe, and began construction on the new Shimabara Castle
(also known as Matsutake Castle). The castle was on a scale much grander than the domain could afford, and so Shigemasa taxed the commoners beyond belief, with the price of the castle construction resulting in twice the amount that the domain could reasonably afford.
In 1621, the persecutions of Christians began, with mutilation and branding being practices ordered by the ever-tightening restrictions of the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu
. In Shimabara, the Matsukura clan tortured Christians by boiling them alive in the infamous Unzen Volcanic Springs, beginning in 1627. In 1629, Shigemasa approached the Nagasaki Magistrate Takenaka Danjo no Sho Shigeyoshi and offered to do the same for all the Christians in Nagasaki. Takenaka agreed.
, in the Philippines. To this end he further taxed his citizens. While the Tokugawa Shogunate did not entirely approve of his iron rule, it did approve, albeit quietly, of his desire for a foreign expedition.
. The Matsukura family came to an end when Katsuie was beheaded by Shogunal order, and the Shogunate placed the domain under the care of Mori Nagatsugu (lord of the Tsuyama Domain
of Mimasaka Province
), before passing it on to the Koriki family, which was transferred in from Hamamatsu, in Tōtōmi Province
.
Edo
, 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...
periods. He held the title of Bingo no Kami and the Imperial court rank of junior 5th, lower grade (ju-go i no ge). Though he began as a retainer of Tsutsui Sadatsugu
Tsutsui Sadatsugu
was a cousin and adopted son of Tsutsui Junkei, a feudal lord of the Yamato province.At the death of Junkei in 1584, he was relocated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to Iga Province, where he built the Iga Ueno Castle. In 1608, however, he was removed from his position by the Tokugawa shogunate, in an...
of Yamato Province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
, he became a lord in his own right, acquiring the 60,000 koku domain of Shimabara
Shimabara
Shimabara can refer to any of the following:* Shimabara, Nagasaki, a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan* Shimabara Peninsula, the geographic feature that hosts Shimabara, Nagasaki* Shimabara Castle, in Shimabara, Nagasaki...
in Kyushu
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....
, in 1600. He is most famous for being the lord whose domain was the epicenter of the Shimabara Rebellion
Shimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
of 1638.
Early life
Matsukura Shigemasa was born in 1574 in Yamato ProvinceYamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
, the son of Matsukura Ukon Shigenobu, a retainer of the Tsutsui clan
Tsutsui clan
Tsutsui clan a Japanese clan originating during the Sengoku period of Japan. Throughout the time of the 16th century, the Tsutsui clan would mainly control the Yamato province, due to the efforts of the feudal lord Tsutsui Junkei. The Tsutsui soon on became a retainer family under that of the Oda...
. However, following the death of Tsutsui Junkei
Tsutsui Junkei
son of Tsusui Junshō, and a Daimyo of the province of Yamato.Very early on, Junkei had his castle taken away by Matsunaga Hisahide, one of the most powerful warriors of the region in feudal Japan at that time. Later by joining forces of Oda Nobunaga, Junkei defeated Hisahide at Mount Shigi in 1577...
, the Tsutsui clan
Tsutsui clan
Tsutsui clan a Japanese clan originating during the Sengoku period of Japan. Throughout the time of the 16th century, the Tsutsui clan would mainly control the Yamato province, due to the efforts of the feudal lord Tsutsui Junkei. The Tsutsui soon on became a retainer family under that of the Oda...
was moved to Iga Province
Iga Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Iga bordered on Ise, Ōmi, Yamato, and Yamashiro Provinces.-Geography:...
, and the Matsukura remained in Yamato, coming under the supervision of the Toyotomi clan
Toyotomi clan
Originating in Owari Province, the served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout 16th-century Japan's Sengoku period. -Unity and Conflict:The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the...
. In 1600 he fought in the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, and for his merits was awarded lordship of Gojo-Futami Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
. For his meritorious actions in the Tokugawa army at the Domyoji front of the Osaka Summer Campaign, he was awarded an increase in stipend and was transferred in 1616 to Hinoe 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...
, a 43,000 koku domain formerly belonging to Arima Harunobu
Arima Harunobu
was the second son and successor of Japanese daimyo Arima Yoshisada. Harunobu was born in the castle of Arima and controlled the Shimabara area of Hizen province. After Harunobu's father's death, he began the persecution of Christians in his region. With Ryūzōji Takanobu expanding into his domain,...
.
Overtaxation and Persecution
In 1618, as per the Ikkoku-ichijo (一国一城, literally, "One Castle Per Province") order established by the Tokugawa ShogunateTokugawa 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...
, Shigemasa dismantled his two castles of Hara and Hinoe, and began construction on the new Shimabara Castle
Shimabara Castle
, also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province , also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province , also known as and , is a Japanese castle located in Shimabara, Hizen Province (present day Nagasaki prefecture. This five-story white...
(also known as Matsutake Castle). The castle was on a scale much grander than the domain could afford, and so Shigemasa taxed the commoners beyond belief, with the price of the castle construction resulting in twice the amount that the domain could reasonably afford.
In 1621, the persecutions of Christians began, with mutilation and branding being practices ordered by the ever-tightening restrictions of the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
. In Shimabara, the Matsukura clan tortured Christians by boiling them alive in the infamous Unzen Volcanic Springs, beginning in 1627. In 1629, Shigemasa approached the Nagasaki Magistrate Takenaka Danjo no Sho Shigeyoshi and offered to do the same for all the Christians in Nagasaki. Takenaka agreed.
Plans for Luzon
Subsequently, Shigemasa had hopes of further hampering the safety of Christians by attacking LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, in the Philippines. To this end he further taxed his citizens. While the Tokugawa Shogunate did not entirely approve of his iron rule, it did approve, albeit quietly, of his desire for a foreign expedition.
Death and the Family Succession
Before Shigemasa could make good on his plans, he died at the Obama Hot Springs in 1630. Some believe he was poisoned by the Shogunate for having unnecessarily pushed his citizens too hard, though the truth remains unclear. The family headship was passed on to his son Matsukura Katsuie, however, as Katsuie continued his father's draconian measures, the peasants and masterless samurai within the domain revolted, igniting the Shimabara RebellionShimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
. The Matsukura family came to an end when Katsuie was beheaded by Shogunal order, and the Shogunate placed the domain under the care of Mori Nagatsugu (lord of the Tsuyama Domain
Tsuyama Domain
The was a feudal domain in Mimasaka Province of Japan during the Edo period.- History :In 1600, the territory that became the Tsuyama domain formed part of the territory ruled from Okayama by Kobayakawa Hideaki...
of Mimasaka Province
Mimasaka Province
or was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today northeastern Okayama Prefecture. Mimasaka bordered Bitchū, Bizen, Harima, Hōki, and Inaba Provinces....
), before passing it on to the Koriki family, which was transferred in from Hamamatsu, in Tōtōmi Province
Totomi Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture. Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa, Suruga and Shinano Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .-History:...
.