History of Asia

What kind of political reform did Tanuma Okitsugu try to rebuild the Edo Shogunate?

Yoshimune Tokugawa Kyoho Reform The finances of the Shogunate have improved a little.

But 1732 Kyoho's Great Famine And Ikki Ikki, Uchikowashi And so on, the shogunate will fall into financial difficulties again.

Appearance of Tanuma Okitsugu and Shogunate Reforms

1745 Yoshimune retired from the general post, 9th Shogun Ieshige In this era, Ieshige had a language disorder and could not convey his intentions to the people around him.

The only small surname Ooka Tadamitsu who served Ieshige's side Only was said to have been able to communicate. Therefore, at first it was a ritual of 300 bales of rice, but after becoming a young man, he went on to become a side servant, and even became a lord of the Iwatsuki domain in Musashi Province, 20,000 stones.

However, Tadamitsu Ooka himself was not the kind of person who actively led politics.

It is Tanuma Okitsugu who was a senior citizen during the time of the 9th Shogun Ieshige and the 10th Shogun Ieji. is.

At first, he was a small surname of Ieshige, but in 1758 he became a daimyo and became a servant of the teenage shogun Ieshige, and in 1772 he became an old man. 1758-1786 after the reform of Kyoho About 30 years when Tanuma Okitsugu was old is called the [Tanuma period].

Compared to the three major reforms in Edo, it has a modest impression, but the Tanuma policy, which seeks to strengthen the power of the shogunate and reorganize the national system, continued with the reform of Yoshimune's Kyoho.

When doing politics, [ budget in advance and keep it ] Etc. are the development of the bureaucracy prepared by the reform of Kyoho.

Tanuma Okitsugu's policies can be broadly divided into three policies.

  1. Mercantilism Policy
  2. Currency union
  3. Public works

Mercantilism policy

In return for encouraging Kabunakama and granting goodwill to Kabunakama of commerce and industry, the idea was to value commerce by receiving 100 surcharges a year.

Speaking of the income of the Edo Shogunate, it was an annual tribute, that is, rice.

However, income was not stable due to the fall in rice prices, soaring funds, and riots.

Tanuma Okitsugu who felt the limit He wanted to get a good income from the merchant.

Of course, the merchants complain, but that's Kabunakama . We dealt with the introduction of the system.

Kabunakama Is like a union of merchants who sell the same things, such as liquor and soy sauce, and receive money from their stockmates. It is a mechanism that gives exclusivity to the Kabunakama who paid the money in favor of business, and prohibits business to those who are not affiliated with Kabunakama.

However, bribes are rampant if you try to give more money to the officials and give them favorable conditions for your business.

Currency union

Meiwa Gokagin / Minami Ryuji Zhugin Was issued and integrated different currencies in the east and west.

As a method,

  • Meiwa 5 匁 Silver Silver 60 ⇒ Gold 1 car
  • Minami Ryuji Zhu Gin 8 sheets ⇒ Oval 1 car

I made it exchangeable with.

Public works

In public works projects, we are planning to land Inba-numa in Chiba prefecture and develop the Ezo area in Hokkaido, but we could not put it into practice due to storms caused by unseasonable weather and flooding of rivers.

Unfortunately, during the Tanuma period, natural disasters overlapped, and in 1782, we were hit by nationwide bad harvests, earthquake disasters, and the eruption of Mt. Asama.

The willingness to harness the power of merchants has been criticized by conservatives who believe in agriculture. In addition, the Kabunakama system has taken root in the custom of bribery, and the common people have come to criticize it.

The famine of Tenmei has caused the death toll of 130,000 due to hunger and plague. In 1784, Tanuma himself had a child slashed and killed in Edo Castle, and he followed the path of his defeat and made a baton touch on the next Kansei Reforms.

Updated October 3, 2018