Who was this person?
A bakumatsu lord of Fukui and one of the Four Wise Lords. Advocating opening and reform, he joined bakufu politics through the shōgunal succession dispute and as political president. Also known by the name Shungaku.
| Name | Matsudaira Yoshinaga (松平慶永) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1828 – 1890 |
| Period | Late Edo (Bakumatsu) |
| Birthplace | Echizen Province |
| Main achievements |
|
Born into the Tayasu Tokugawa house; childhood name Kinnochi. Later adopted into the Fukui Matsudaira house as Yoshinaga. Pen name Shungaku. Kinship with the shogunal line backed his voice in bakumatsu politics.
He became lord of Fukui at about ten. Though young he took interest in reform, aiming to promote talent and renew military systems. It was the start of a career later ranked among the Four Wise Lords.
After Perry's arrival he argued for opening and reform. Seeking realistic diplomacy rather than simple expulsion of foreigners, he advised the bakufu and domains. He heavily employed able retainers such as Hashimoto Sanai.
In the succession dispute he backed Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu and clashed with Ii Naosuke. In the Ansei Purge he was ordered to retire and confine himself, leaving the public stage for a time. Even in setback he kept contact with allies.
In the Bunkyū reforms he became political president and joined bakufu reform. Advancing union of court and bakufu, he sought talent and institutional review. Even briefly, his impact on central politics was large.
In Fukui he kept renewing military and education systems, adopting Western-style drill. Preparing for domestic strife, he hurried domain recovery. Shungaku's reforms backed local modernization. Mentions of political president also mark this phase.
In the Meiji Restoration he drew near the new government and joined building a new national frame. As a former lord he also accepted the return of domain registers. In rapid change he served as a mediator.
After abolition of domains he, as a kazoku peer, took interest in education and historiography. He also worked on writings recording bakumatsu events that became later sources. His role widened from working politician to recorder.
He compiled bakumatsu-Meiji observations in works such as Itsuji shihō. A participant's viewpoint later aided research. A step back from politics, he reexamined the meaning of the age.
He died in Tokyo at sixty-one. Calling for opening and reform and moving bakumatsu politics, Shungaku's name was long told with Fukui's history. His standing among the Four Wise Lords endured.
A. A bakumatsu lord of Fukui and one of the Four Wise Lords. Advocating opening and reform, he joined bakufu politics through the shōgunal succession dispute and as political president. Also known by the name Shungaku.
A. Period: Late Edo (Bakumatsu). Born in 1828, died in 1890.
A. Matsudaira Yoshinaga was born in Echizen Province.
A. Because he was one of the representative lords who advocated opening and reform and moved politics from a major domain's stance, named alongside figures such as Shimazu Nariakira.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Matthew C. PerryIi NaosukeHashimoto SanaiTokugawa Yoshinobu
Oguri TadamasaYamauchi Yōdō (Toyoshige)Saigō TakamoriMatsudaira Shungaku (Yoshinaga)Takechi Hanpeita (Zuizan)Yoshida ShōinKiyokawa HachirōKondō Isami
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.