History of Asia

From withdrawal to senior employment ... Actually, he was a hikikomori [tea song pon] Naosuke Ii

So far Naosuke Ii Was evaluated to the extreme of good and evil.

In general, powerful political skills Has cracked down on opponents with [ evil lieutenants ] I should not be the only one who recognizes that he was assassinated because of his strong image.

On the other hand, Hikone, which is the knee of Naosuke Ii, is highly regarded as a great man who led Japan, which had been isolated, to the opening of the country.

These two extremes are thought to be related to the history of Japan after Naosuke's death. Maybe Naosuke's political skills were criticized because the forces that were in conflict with Naosuke took control of the government and the new Meiji government, which overthrew the Edo Shogunate, created a modern nation. about it.

It is a well-known fact that history can be rewritten by those in power at the time, and Naosuke Ii was no exception.

Naosuke Ii was involved [ Ansei Purge ] And [ Sakuradamon Incident ] Is the secret of the day Despite the fact that it happened as a result of, the result of suppressing the opposition without fully explaining the causal relationship. ] Has been explained.

It was the local Hikone people who rebelled against this historical awareness, and in 1909, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the country, [ benefactor of the opening of the country ] And asked to be a person who supported the modernization of Japan.

The image of Naosuke Ii, which we generally recognize, was created in the political situation of modern society and may not be an objective view of him.

Also appeared in [Reach Beyond the Blue Sky]! !! Tea Song Pon [Naosuke Ii]

In my view, Naosuke Ii had the image of "high-pressure hardliners", but Taiga drama, Reach Beyond the Sky . Then, a person who is weak and constantly struggles with worries is drawn behind the scenes. The truth is not clear when I see this, but the image of Naosuke Ii up to now has been overturned.

Although it is written hard in the world, I tried to write an article closer to Naosuke Ii because "If you stand on the side of Naosuke Ii and investigate, the image may change like a taiga drama". I thought.

It may be a little biased article, but I hope you can understand that Naosuke Ii was also doing politics thinking about Japan in his own way.

History of the Ii family, the leader of the Fudai Daimyo family

Throughout the Edo period, the Ii family was a daimyo family who ruled mainly in the eastern part of Omi, the Hikone domain.

That should be that too. The first feudal lord of Hikone should be called the chief retainer of Ieyasu Tokugawa Naomasa Ii is.

Throughout the Edo period, the Ii family changed countries from the first Naomasa to the 14th Naonori, ruled Hikone without crushing, and at the turning point of the era, he worked as a senior citizen to support the Tokugawa administration.

1632 The second shogun, Hidetada, was Naotaka Ii and Tadaaki Matsudaira just before the death. Called the 3rd Shogun, Iemitsu He guarded his affairs and ordered him to be involved in the shogunate affairs.

Its role is to judge the political affairs of the old and middle-aged people from a broad perspective and assist the general's decision . was. The position within the shogunate is not specified, and the guardian position of this general is later elder . Will be called.

Throughout the Edo period Naooki Ii, Naoyuki, Naosuke, Naosuke And four people were entrusted with the important role of being a senior citizen at the turning point of the times. Among them, Naosuke Ii As the 15th Hikone Domain, as the elder of the Edo Shogunate, Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce It is widely known as the person who tied the.

The birth of Naosuke Ii and the encounter with Nagano Shuzen

Naosuke was born as the 14th son of Naonaka, the 13th feudal lord of the Hikone Domain.

Therefore, Naosuke himself was not in a position to succeed the Ii family, and he himself spent his life trying to devote his life to acquiring cultures such as Zen, tea ceremony, and national studies.

Especially with regard to the tea ceremony, he founded a sect of the Sekishūryu and has been training since becoming the lord of the Hikone domain. It was so extreme that I wrote a book called "Tea Ceremony".

Naosuke's tea ceremony is a product that emphasizes the individual spirit of the tea ceremony. [ Ichigoichikai ] The word symbolizes it. [One-time meeting] is

Even if you hold a tea ceremony with the same members many times, if you think that this one tea ceremony is a party that will never be repeated, it is "a tea ceremony once in a lifetime, tea without being seriously disappointed. You need to be prepared to receive it. ”

I know that.

I met Nagano Shuzen in this era. .. He was an aide called Ii's Kaiken.

Waka is what connects them. It all started when Naosuke, who heard the technique of Japanese poetry in Nagano, called and asked him for his teacher. Since the years are close to each other, they say they got along very well.

Nagano is a very talented person, and Naosuke learned national studies through him and came to think that it was necessary for Japan to create an "emperor" centered on the emperor.

However, 1846 Naosuke, the 14th feudal lord, died, and Naosuke became the successor to the Hikone Domain in the form of being adopted by Naoaki. After that, he will live in Edo as the next feudal lord, and if Naosuke is in Hikone, he will be stationed in Edo instead, and will continue to engage in activities such as interacting with other daimyo families.

Naosuke Ii is Nagano Shuzen when he becomes the feudal lord. Together with the reform of the domain.

The Kokugaku advocated by Nagano Shuzen is

  • It is not a [revolutionary theory] that defeats the shogunate and returns the government to the imperial court
  • However, we must build a country centered on the emperor
  • The world of the samurai came by the will of the samurai (affirmation of the Tokugawa shogunate), and the administration was delegated to the shogunate by an agreement with the imperial court. In other words, the opinion of the imperial court may be in agreement with the shogunate at the time of delegation.

Politics is entrusted to the samurai by the will of the samurai, and the imperial court agrees. ] Is the underlying idea.

In other words, Ii Naosuke has no intention of ignoring the emperor.

[ Because I was entrusted to the imperial court, I must do my best ]

Ii Naosuke would have thought that.

His career seems to be focused on "creating an empire", so caused Ansei Purge to neglect the imperial court and wipe out the debate . I think it contradicts the theory.

Inauguration as the lord of the Hikone domain and a feud with the Mito domain! ??

On November 21, 1850, following the death of Naoaki Ii, he succeeded his family and became the feudal lord.

After taking office as the feudal lord, Naosuke has been reforming the feudal affairs. He is enriching the clan school like Tokugawa Nariaki of the Mito clan who was focusing on education. We are also focusing on [ name locally ] Was called.

Why did the feud with the Mito clan occur even though he was such a famous man? The answer seems to be in the special industry of the Hikone Domain.

The Hikone clan was the only clan that was allowed to handle cows from the shogunate in order to take the cowhide used for armor because it was popular for making armor. In the Edo period, the ban on meat eating had not been lifted yet, but it was customary to pickle beef from the process of handling beef in miso and send it to the shogunate and other daimyo families.

However, 1850 as part of Naosuke Ii's domain reforms. Prohibit the killing of cattle However, I quit giving beef miso-zuke. It is believed that Naosuke was an avid Buddhist in the background.

Among the daimyo who received beef almost every year, Tokugawa Nariaki of the Mito Domain was disappointed. Ansei Purge and Sakuradamon Incident The feud between the two feudal clan is as historical, but before that, the Hikone feudal clan and the Mito feudal clan had a deep feud related to beef ...

Mito feudal lord, Nariaki Tokugawa He was a big beef lover and was anxious about the lack of beef from the Hikone Domain. Nariaki sent a messenger to the Ii family to urge beef to end the Mito clan party dispute. The episode that was done is recorded.

It seems that Nariaki persistently negotiated the use of the reminder not only once but many times.

At the request of the Mito clan of the Misan family, he thought that he would do something about it, but he said that he did not send it because it was prohibited by the national rule. Nariaki's passion for beef also makes me sick, but it also describes Naosuke's stubbornness, which does not overturn what he once decided.

It is said that Nariaki was quite resentful and angry at Naosuke who did not respond even if he asked for this much.

As will be described later, it is said that both the person himself and the shogunate were aware of the attacks by the former feudal lords due to the change outside Sakuradamon. Of course, it is natural that the Mito feudal lord, Nariaki, also knew.

Nariaki may have dared to pretend not to see Naosuke, who wouldn't respond even if he asked for this much, because he felt very uncomfortable. At that time, if Naosuke Ii had sent beef to Nariaki, he might have stopped the runaway of his former vassals, which is the story of Tarareba.

By the way, his son Tokugawa Yoshinobu also loved pork and was called "Butaichisama". Like his father, Nariaki, he said he wanted pork persistently for Komatsu Kiyokado, the chief retainer of the Satsuma domain, which is the production center of pigs, so blood cannot be contested.

Naosuke Ii's inauguration as an elder

Perry Opening Request In order to consider how to deal with the situation, the shogunate decided to seek opinions from foreigners and Shinpan daimyo who had not been involved in the shogunate, but since then they have started to speak to the shogunate.

In particular, the Mito feudal lord, Tokugawa Nariaki, the Ichimon Echizen feudal lord, Matsudaira Yoshinaga, and the Tozama Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira, are also working on the court to make Yoshinobu Ichihashi a general.

By this time, the intentions of the imperial court will be reflected in politics. 1858 Rōjū ・ Hotta Masayoshi Asks for a trade treaty permit, but Emperor Komei Is on hold. Until now, the imperial court has always given permission in line with the intentions of the shogunate, and the suspension of permission as in the case of the trade treaty was unprecedented.

Therefore, Rōjū and Hotta advised the shogun to "set Matsudaira Yoshinaga as the elder and overcome it" in order to survive this emergency. However, in response to Hotta's suggestion, Shogun Iesada said, [ Considering the family, Ii is the only old man ... ].

With this background, Elder Ii Naosuke Was born.

You may think that Matsudaira Yoshinaga is more suitable in terms of ability, but [ Shogunate is carried out by Fudai Daimyo / Bakushin, who is a vassal of the shogun] I think it was an accurate judgment that understood the fundamental principle of the Shogunate.

Naosuke Ii, who became the elder, signed a treaty with the next shogun . I decided to decide the policy about the matter. What was decided at this point was

  • The Kishu Tokugawa family's Keifuku for the Shogun Decided to
  • The signing of the treaty is approved by the emperor after summarizing the opinions of various daimyo Get

It was only the part.

However, the US Consul General Harris was informed that the Second Opium War between Britain and France on the Chinese continent was suspended in June. Recommends that "the United Kingdom and France will soon attack Japan" and urges the conclusion of an immediate treaty between Japan and the United States.

When the Shogunate gathered in Edo Castle on June 18 and had discussions, some Shogunate appealed for immediate signing, but Naosuke Ii Postpone the signing until the explanation to the emperor is over Decided the policy. Even if that policy is a major premise, it may happen. Diplomat, Tadanari Iwase, Inoue Kiyonao " Is it okay to sign in case of emergency? When I asked Naosuke, Naosuke said [ In that case, it can't be helped . ] Is answered.

Eventually, the negotiations were signed the same day Iwase and his colleagues headed for Harris. There may have been a threat from Harris behind this process. Is generally said.

In short, this treaty signing drama is not the sole discretion of Naosuke Ii, but the policy of "concluding the treaty after receiving the command of the emperor until the end", but in the unlikely event that "the treaty is unavoidable without the command of the emperor". It can be said that it was tied in the midst of the idea of.

As mentioned earlier, Naosuke Ii, who studied Kokugaku from Nagano Shuzen, did not despise the imperial court. It seems that he thought that "the decision of the shogunate is the will of the imperial court, and even if it is arbitrary, it is the consensus" as long as the shogunate is entrusted with politics by the imperial court.

The secret of the day and the change outside Sakuradamon

Keifuku to the next shogun Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi Tokugawa Nariaki and other Hitotsubashi factions who wanted to recommend this to the next shogun were eager to prevent the announcement.

The signing of the treaty before the Shogunate received the emperor's royal charter was Elder Ii Naosuke from the outside, not a party. Ignored the Emperor's intention Same thing as. It was the best pursuit material for the Hitotsubashi faction.

Since the pursuit of the Hitotsubashi faction was vainly decided and announced to the next shogun, the Hitotsubashi faction should act in connection with the emperor who opposes the opening of the country as the next move.

Emperor Komei on August 8th A document that criticizes the shogunate for political management under the command of ] Has been issued. In addition, the Mito clan was ordered to convey this text to the clan.

The emperor gives a decree to a daimyo is a major incident that shakes the social system at that time from the ground up, and the shogunate investigates and punishes the people involved in the decree. During this investigation, an armed coup plan was revealed, and the shogunate severely punished the people involved.

This is Ansei Purge * It will be.

* When I looked up Naosuke Ii, the article about Ansei Purge that I wrote earlier was inconsistent with this article, so I would like to find time to rewrite it. Please note that the article is still old until then.

After that, the shogunate side went to the Mito clan the secret royal family . A plan to return. The radicals of the Mito clan who opposed this gathered and headed for Edo to assassinate Naosuke Ii and reform the shogunate.

March 3, 1830 On the fateful day of the festival, various daimyo will climb to Edo Castle and celebrate the festival of the Double Third Festival. There was information on the attack on the Naosuke side, but the elder said that he could not go to the castle, so he headed for Edo Castle as planned and was attacked by 17 Mito Dappan and 1 Satsuma Dappan. It becomes.

Hikone Domain after that

In 1862, two years after Naosuke Ii died, a major political change occurred in the shogunate, and the Hitotsubashi faction took charge of the shogunate.

As a result, Ii Naosuke criticized the treaty signing and Ansei Purge However, the crime will be chased by Naosuke Ii and the Hikone Domain, and the territory of 100,000 stones will be summoned.

The biggest challenge for the Hikone Domain is to return the 100,000 stones and the stigma of Naosuke Ii, Osaka Bay maintenance, Yamato's Tenchugumi suppression, Kinmon incident, Choshu war . I worked for the shogunate.

Meanwhile, 1867 Tokugawa Yoshinobu Taisei Hokan The Tokugawa family tried to enter the center of politics again, but the great command of the restoration of the royal government The new government that issued the issue will be in conflict to eliminate Yoshinobu.

Here, the Hikone Domain is forced to "which side", but considering the recent treatment, it is Emperor to restore the honor of Naosuke Ii. I decided to join the new government. The Hikone Domain on the side of the new government is Boshin War In addition to showing success in Japan, Hikone soldiers are showing their presence everywhere, such as capturing the Shinsengumi Isami Kondo in Nagareyama.

What is Kamon no Kami? * Reference

In the Ii family, except that the first Naomasa was Shosuke Hyobu, the second and subsequent Naomasa had the title of Kamon no Kami. The head of the sword is the position in the ancient ritual system. ] However, the job titles in the Edo period were almost street names and had nothing to do with the original job titles.