Sakai clan

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Site of the Sakai clan's residence in Edo
Site of the Sakai clan's residence in Edo
In this Japanese name, the family name is Sakai.

The Sakai clan (酒井氏 Sakai-shi?) descended from Emperor Seiwa and is a daimyō branch of the samurai Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan in Edo period Japan.

Nitta Yoshisue, 4th son of Nitta Yoshishige, settled in the Tokugawa clan's Kōzuke Province and took the name of the place.

Tokugawa Arichika (ca. 14th century), a descendant of Yoshisue in the 7th generation, is the common ancestor of the Sakai and the Matsudaira clan. This genealogical background explains in part how the Sakai came to be so trusted by the Matsudaira as senior vassals throughout the Sengoku period. Under Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Sakai became chief retainers.

The Sakai were identified as one of the fudai ("insider daimyō clans") which were hereditary vassels or allies of the Tokugawa clan,[1] in contrast with the tozama ("outsider clans").

Contents

[edit] Clan branches

The fudai Sakai clan originated in 14th century Mikawa Province.[1] They claim descent from Minamoto no Arichika. Arichika had two sons; one of them, Yasuchika, took the name of Matsudaira, while the other son, Chikauji, took the name of Sakai. Chikauji is the ancestor of the Sakai clan. Sakai Hirochika, Chikauji's son, had two sons as well, and the descendants of these two sons gave rise to the two principal branches of the clan.[2]

  • a. Senior branch: Sakai Tadatsugu (1527–1596). Vassel of Tokygawa Ieyasu. He was charged with the defense of Yoshida Castle in Mikawa Province.
    • In 1578, Sakai Ietsugu (1564–1619) succeeded to his father's role as defender of Yoshida Castle. The Ie- in the beginning of Ietsugu's name was a special honor bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who intended to emphasize bonds of loyalty with those who were allowed to share in any part of his name.[3] When Ieaysu's holdings were transferred to the Kantō region in 1590, Ietsugi was installed at Usui Domain (30,000 koku) in Kōzuke Province, but, in 1604, he was moved to Takasaki Domain (50,000 koku). In 1616, he was again moved to Takata Domain (100,000 koku), this time in Echigo Province. In 1619, he was moved to Matsushiro Domain in Shinano Province; and then, from 1622 to 1868, he was installed at Tsurugaoka Domain (120,000 koku) in Dewa Province.[4] The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Count" in the Meiji period.[5]
  • b. A cadet branch was created in 1647.[6] These Makino were installed from 1647 through 1868 at Matsumine Domain (20,000 koku) in Dewa Province; the castle at Matsumine was constructed in 1779. The head of this clan line was enobled as a "Vicount" in the Meiji period.[5]
  • c. Sakai Masachika (+1576). Vassel of the Tokugawa -- Tokugawa Nobutada, Tokugawa Kiyoyasu et Tokugawa Hirotada. In 1561, he was installed at Nishio Castle in Mikawa Province, and the security of the castle was confided in him.[2]
    • In 1590, Sakai Shigetada, the son of Masachika, received the Kawagoe Domain (15,000 koku) in Musashi Province; then in 1601, he was installed at Umayabashi Domain (35,000 koku) in Kōzuke Province.[7]
    • In 1749, the descendants of Sakai Tadakiyo (1626–1681) were transferred to Himeji Domain (150,000 koku) in Harima Province ; and they remained daimyō at Himeji until the Meiji period.[7] This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1590.[6] The head of this clan line was first ennobled as a "Count" and in the Meiji period.[7]
  • d. This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1668,[8] These Sakai were installed from 1668 through 1868 at Katsuyama Domain (12,000 koku) in Awa Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.[7]
  • e. This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1681,[8] These Sakai were installed in 1681 through 1868 at Isezaki Domain (20,000 koku) in Kōzuke Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.[7]
    • Sakai Tadakatsu (1587–1662) was installed in 1634 through 1868 at Obama Domain (103,500 koku) in Wakasa Province .[7] This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1590.[6] The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Count" in the Meiji period.[7]
  • g. This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1682.[8] These Sakai were installed in 1682 through 1868 at Tsuruga Domain (10,000 koku) in Echizen Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.[7]

The Sakai of Tsuruoka Domain (170,000 koku) in Dewa Province were prominent in the late Edo period as a military power. Charged with the safety of Edo, they were patrons of the Shinchogumi police force, and were very effective in their duties. Following the surrender of Edo, the Sakai withdrew and returned north to their domain, where they were active in the northern theater of the Boshin War, as well as becoming signatories to the pact that created the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in 1868.

[edit] Notable members

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness.
Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.

[edit] Further reading

  • This article has been compiled using corresponding material from the Japanese wikipedia.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Alpert, Georges. (1888). Ancien Japon, pp. 76-77.
  2. ^ a b Papinot, Jacques. (2003). Nobiliare du Japon -- Sakai, pp. 50-51; Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon. (in French/German).
  3. ^ Plutschow, Herbert. (1995). "Japan's Name Culture: The Significance of Names in a Religious, Political and Social Context, p.53.
  4. ^ Papinot, p. 50; Appert, p. 76.
  5. ^ a b Papinot, p. 50.
  6. ^ a b c Appert, p. 76.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Papinot, p. 51.
  8. ^ a b c Appert, p. 77.
  9. ^ Plutschow, p. 53. -- Hidetada gave him the "Tada-" in his name.
  10. ^ a b c Meyer, Eva-Maria."Gouverneure von Kyôto in der Edo-Zeit." Universität Tübingen (in German).
  11. ^ a b c Beasley, William G. (1955). Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853-1868, p. 339.
  12. ^ a b "Nobility, Peerage and Ranks in Ancient and Meiji-Japan," p. 13.
  13. ^ Japan peers, p. 14.
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