Ansei Purge

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The Ansei Purge (安政の大獄 Ansei no taigoku) was a purge, in 1858 and 1859, of over 100 people from the bakufu, various han, and the Japanese Imperial court.^[1] Eight of those "purged" were also executed.

Ansei 5 (1858): Beginning of arrests of troublemakers by order of Ii Naosuke.
Ansei 6 (1859): Arrests and investigations continuing.

Edo Castle's Sakurada Gate (Sakurada-mon): The assassination of Ii Naosuke occurred nearby.

Ansei 7 (March 3, 1860): Ii Naosuke assassinated, also known as "the Sakurada-mon Incident."^[2]

The purge was carried out by Ii Naosuke in an effort to quiet opposition to his handling of the question of shogunal succession and the signing of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

Those prosecuted at the purge include:

Matsudaira Yoshinaga - head of Fukui Domain
Date Munenari - head of Uwajima Domain
Yamanouchi Toyoshige - head of Tosa Domain

[edit] References

^ In the name "Ansei Purge," the noun "Ansei" refers to the nengō (Japanese era name) after "Kaei" and before "Man'en." In other words, the Ansei Purge occurred during Ansei, which was a time period spanning the years from 1854 through 1860.
^ Kusunoki, pp. 52-66.