Hosokawa Shigekata
| Hosokawa Shigekata |
|
| Hosokawa Shigekata, mid-Edo era daimyo of the Kumamoto domain |
In office
1747–1785 |
| Preceded by |
Hosokawa Munetaka |
| Succeeded by |
Hosokawa Harutoshi |
| Personal details |
| Born |
January 23, 1721(1721-01-23)
Edo, Japan |
| Died |
November 27, 1785(1785-11-27)
Edo, Japan |
| Nationality |
Japanese |
| Spouse(s) |
daughter of Koga Michie |
Hosokawa Shigekata (細川 重賢?, January 23, 1721 – November 27, 1785) was a daimyo, 6th lord of Kumamoto of Hosokawa clan, noted for successful financial reform of Kumamoto Domain, for establishing Jishuukan Han school, Han Medical School Saishunkan (school) and new ideas of criminal law.
Biography
Early life (1721–1747)
- His father, Hosokawa Nobunori, was the 4th daimyo of Hosokawa clan, but his elder brother, the 5th daimyo, unfortunately was killed, because the family crest of another person was similar to that of the Hosokawa clan. Shigekata unexpectedly had to become the next lord and face financial difficulties of the Kumamoto Han. The deficits at the time of his father reached 400,000 ryo, Tael. The finance of his Han had worsened because of the policy of the edo bakufu which requested the Sankin kōtai, and famine. Shigekata himself had kept a card of a pawn shop in order not to forget his young hard days, for one reason because he was one of 21 children born of Hosokawa Nobunori.
The reform of Horeki
- In 1752, he appointed Hori Katuna the great Bugyō, often translated as "commissioner" or "magistrate" or "governor," was a title assigned to government officers in pre-modern Japan. Hori immediately went to Osaka to negotiate with Kohnoike family and others for loan, but the Osaka rich families refused to the request of Kumamoto han. Then, Hori was successful in borrowing a huge sum of money from Kajimaya in return for the 100,000 koku or rice of KumamotoHan. Kajimaya requested considerable reduced financial policy of Kumamotohan.
- Originally, 100 koku of samurais meant 40 koku of rice,or the samurai obtained 40 %. After the reform, 20 koku per 100 koku went to a samurai, and then 13 koku, this meant a reduction of 65 %.[1]
- Kokudaka (石高) or the system of koku refers to a system for determining land value for tribute purposes in Edo period Japan and expressing this value in koku of rice. This tribute was no longer a percentage of the actual quantity of rice harvested, but was assessed based on the quality and size of the land. The system was used to value the incomes of daimyo, or samurais under daimyo.
- Kumamoto han wanted that samurais were satisfied with the reform of Horeki, and at the same time, they would train themselves as samurais. One was to build a school of han for samurais and others.
- Another idea was to rehabilitate those who were against the rules, and Shigekata started completely new criminal laws of the han.
- In addition, Shigekata and Hori started the production of washi (Japanese paper), silk, and monopolized production of wax. They at times examined the land and its production (Kenchi, in Japanese). Toward the end of Horeki years （1751–1763), the financial status of the Han had greatly improved.
- Preserved rice and Cereal helped the Han in the famine of Tenmei.
Criticisms of the reform
- Because it was so radical, it was not without objections, especially by samurais.
- In 1772, Matsuno Hichizou, a metsuke, pointed out three bad points of Hori.
- In 1774, Masuda Yaichiuemon, criticized the Reform in 18 secret letters.
- Iguchi Souemon, a bugyo favoring the Reform, committed seppuku because he was insulted by Nagaoka Mondo, who was against Hori.
- Ariyoshi Daizen, a karo, made magic (paranormal) against Shigakata and Hori.[2]
- Furukawa Koshoken, a travel journalist, visited Kumamoto around the last of Shigekata years; he found a discrepancy between the life of ordinary people and the popularity of Shigekata, and wrote he believed that in Kumamoto, there was nothing good politically.[3]
- In later years, Yokoi Shonan criticized the present situation in Kumamotohan, in his Jimu Shian.[4]
Han School Jishuukan
- Shigekata established a famous Han school, Jishuukan within the campus of Kumamoto Castle in 1755. This school is known for producing many noted scholars in later years such as Yokoi Shounan, Inoue Kowashi and Kitasato Shibasaburo. It was open to any class of people, if admission was recognized, not only in Kumamoto people but also in other countries, with schlarships when students were very bright. There was no such system in other Han schools at this time.
- At the most popular period, 255 schools were established in the Edo era in Japan, one in every Han or local country. Other famous schools of Han were Nisshinkan of Aizu, Kohjohkan of Yonezawa, Kohdohkan of Mito, Meirinkan of Choshu, Shin-yukan of Nakatsu, Kohdohkan of Saga, Zohshikan of Satsuma were known, in addition to Jishuukan.
Han Medical School Saishunkan
- He established the first public han medical school, Saishunkan (school) in Miyaderamura, Akitagun (now Nihongi, Kumamoto in 1756 and the school was opened in the nex year. Its botanical garden was established in Yakuencho, Kumamoto.[5][6]
Criminal laws of Kumamoto Han
- Another important reform he made was about the criminal laws. There had been only death penalty and exile as punishment. Exile was changed to caning and penal labour. Tattoo was changed to shaving the eyebrows, once in 5 days. His idea was to let them work for the Han, and rehabilitate them into society. His reform was made a model in Meiji restoration. Those who worked were given money in preparation for the days after punishment.
Biology and Hosokawa Shigekata
- In his later life, he was interested in biology, the records of plants and animals; which were said professional. An interesting animal, possibly drawn by a professional, (though he himself draw pictures), was Honshū Wolf which is now extinct.
Western-mania(Ran-heki)
References
- Anecdotes of Hosokawa Shigekata Kawaguchi K. Kumamoto Nichi-Nichi Shimbun, 2008.ISBN 978-4-87755-313-5
See also
- ^ Higogaku Koza" The reform of Horeki, its present-day significance. Yoshimura T. p108-131, ISBN 978-4-87755-231-2
- ^ History of Kumamoto viewed from topis, edit. Iwamoto C. The Merits and Demerits of the Reform of Horeki, p134, Gen Shobou, Fukuoka, 2007 ISBN 978-4-902116-85-4
- ^ Higogaku Koza p127
- ^ Hogogaku Koza p75
- ^ Anecdotes of Hosokawa Shigekata Kawaguchi K. Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, 2008
- ^ Higo Iikushi Yamasaki M. p.6, 1929, Saikai Jihousha, Kumamoto.
| Persondata |
| Name |
Hosokawa Shigekata |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
January 23, 1721 |
| Place of birth |
Edo, Japan |
| Date of death |
November 27, 1785 |
| Place of death |
Kumamoto, Japan |