Who was this person?
The eighth Edo shogun. Moving up from lord of Kishū, he carried out the Kyōhō Reforms to restore shogunal finances: frugality, a rice levy on the lords, new paddy development, a public petition box and the legal code Kujikata Osadamegaki. He also relaxed the ban on Western books in Chinese translation to encourage practical learning, and is nicknamed the "Rice Shogun".
| Name | Tokugawa Yoshimune (徳川吉宗) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1684 – 1751 |
| Period | Edo period |
| Birthplace | Wakayama, Kii Province (now Wakayama) |
| Also known as | Tokugawa Yorikata (earlier name), the Rice Shogun |
| Main achievements |
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Born the fourth son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, lord of the Kii domain (Wakayama).
His father and brothers died one after another, and he unexpectedly became lord of Kii. Promoting thrift, he restored the domain's troubled finances.
When the seventh shogun Ietsugu died as a child and the main line died out, he was brought in as the eighth shogun.
To restore shogunate finances he launched the Kyōhō Reforms, issuing an order that money-lending disputes be settled between the parties themselves.
He permitted imports of Western books unrelated to Christianity, opening the way for the rise of Dutch learning.
He placed a petition box outside Edo castle to hear the people directly. One suggestion led to the Koishikawa infirmary for the poor sick.
He had daimyō pay the shogunate 100 koku of rice per 10,000 koku of assessed yield, halving their time in Edo in return, and promoted new rice fields.
He introduced tashidaka, topping up stipends during office when a family's rank fell short, making it easier to appoint able men regardless of lineage.
A great famine caused by locusts struck western Japan. Yoshimune had Aoki Kon'yō study sweet potato cultivation as a safeguard against famine.
He had the Kujikata Osadamegaki compiled as a standard for trials, aiming at fair justice.
He passed the shogunate to his son Ieshige but kept watch over government as retired shogun. His concern with rice prices earned him the name "Rice Shogun".
He died at Edo castle, regarded as the great restorer of the Edo shogunate.
A. The eighth Edo shogun. Moving up from lord of Kishū, he carried out the Kyōhō Reforms to restore shogunal finances: frugality, a rice levy on the lords, new paddy development, a public petition box and the legal code Kujikata Osadamegaki. He also relaxed the ban on Western books in Chinese translation to encourage practical learning, and is nicknamed the "Rice Shogun".
A. Period: Edo period. Born in 1684, died in 1751.
A. Tokugawa Yoshimune was born in Wakayama, Kii Province (now Wakayama).
A. Shogunal reforms led by Tokugawa Yoshimune from around 1716. Frugality, the rice levy, new fields and changes in tax collection restored finances; a petition box gathered commoners’ views, and the Koishikawa infirmary was founded.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
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People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.