Tokugawa Iemitsu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tokugawa Iemitsu
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Shōgun | |
| In office 1623–1651 |
|
| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | Tokugawa Hidetada |
| Succeeded by | Tokugawa Ietsuna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 12, 1604 Edo, Tokugawa shogunate (now Tokyo, Japan) |
| Died | June 8, 1651 (aged 46) Edo, Tokugawa shogunate |
| Children |
|
| Parents |
|
| Signature |  |
Tokugawa Iemitsu (born August 12, 1604 – died June 8, 1651) was the third powerful leader, known as a shōgun, of the Tokugawa family in Japan. He was the oldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada and Oeyo. His grandmother was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who started the Tokugawa rule. Lady Kasuga, his wet nurse, was also an important advisor.
Iemitsu ruled Japan from 1623 to 1651. During his time as shōgun, he made big changes to Japan's relationship with other countries. He took strong actions against Christians and made sure that almost all Europeans left Japan. He also closed Japan's borders to the outside world. This policy of limiting contact with other countries lasted for over 200 years.
Contents
Early Life and Family (1604–1617)
Tokugawa Iemitsu was born on August 12, 1604. He was the first member of the Tokugawa family born after his grandfather, Tokugawa Ieyasu, became the first shōgun. Ieyasu was a great leader who helped unite Japan.
Iemitsu's childhood name was Takechiyo. He had two sisters, Senhime and Masako. He also had a younger brother, Tokugawa Tadanaga, who was a favorite of their parents. However, Ieyasu made it clear that Iemitsu would be the next shōgun after his father, Hidetada.
Iemitsu's Parents and Key Family Members
- Father: Tokugawa Hidetada (1581–1632)
- Mother: Lady Oeyo (1573–1626)
- Wet nurse and advisor: Lady Kasuga (1579–1643)
Iemitsu's Children
Iemitsu had several children. His main wife was Takatsukasa Takako.
- Chiyohime (1637–1699), his first daughter.
- Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641–1680), his first son and future shōgun.
- Tokugawa Tsunashige (1644–1678), his third son.
- Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646–1709), his fourth son and future shōgun.
Becoming the Heir (1617–1623)
In 1617, Iemitsu officially became an adult. He changed his childhood name to Tokugawa Iemitsu. He was also formally named the heir to the Tokugawa shogunate. This meant he would be the next shōgun. His younger brother, Tadanaga, also wanted this position, which caused some rivalry between them.
Iemitsu married Takatsukasa Takako in 1623.
Ruling as Shōgun (1623–1651)
In 1623, when Iemitsu was 19, his father Hidetada stepped down as shōgun. Iemitsu then took over this important role. Even though Hidetada was retired, he still had some power. But after Hidetada passed away in 1632, Iemitsu gained full control.
Building a Strong Government
After his father's death, Iemitsu removed his father's older advisors. Instead, he chose his childhood friends to help him rule. With their help, Iemitsu created a very strong and organized government. This made some powerful lords, called daimyōs, unhappy. But Iemitsu simply removed anyone who opposed him.
The Sankin-kōtai System
Iemitsu created a system called sankin-kōtai. This system made daimyō lords live in the capital city of Edo for part of the year. They also had to spend time in their home provinces. One main reason for this rule was to stop the daimyō from becoming too rich or powerful. Traveling to and from Edo with a large group of people was very expensive.
The system also required the daimyōs wives and children to stay in Edo. They were like guests, but also a bit like hostages. This made sure the daimyō would not plan rebellions against the shōgun.
The Shimabara Rebellion
In 1637, a large uprising happened in a place called Shimabara. This revolt was partly against Iemitsu's policies towards Christians. But it was also because of high taxes and harsh treatment of peasants by local lords. Many people were killed when the shōgun's army stopped the rebellion. After the revolt, many more people were executed. Since many rebels were Christians, the government used this as a reason to expel the Portuguese from Japan. They also limited the Dutch East India Company to a small island called Dejima in Nagasaki.
Closing Japan's Borders (Sakoku)
During the 1630s, Iemitsu issued several rules that limited Japan's contact with the outside world. Japanese people were forbidden from leaving the country or returning. If they did, they could face death. Most Europeans were also expelled from Japan. Only the Dutch East India Company was allowed to trade, and only on the small island of Dejima.
Even though Japan was "closed" to many, it still had some connections to the world.
- Nagasaki was the center for trade with the Dutch and Chinese merchants.
- The Satsuma Domain managed relations with the Ryūkyū Kingdom, which helped Japan get Chinese goods.
- The Tsushima Domain handled trade and talks with Joseon-dynasty Korea.
- The Matsumae Domain managed contact with the Ainu people in the north.
This period is often called sakoku, meaning "chained country" or "closed country." However, many experts today say Japan was not completely closed. They prefer terms like "maritime restrictions." This means Japan was still involved with the outside world, but it controlled these interactions very strictly.
Later Years and Death
In 1643, Empress Meisho stepped down from the throne. Her younger half-brother, Emperor Go-Kōmyō, became the new emperor. He did not like the shōgun's harsh ways.
In 1651, shōgun Iemitsu died at the age of 47. He was the first Tokugawa shōgun to die while still in power, rather than stepping down. His eldest son, Tokugawa Ietsuna, became the next shōgun.
Japan's Anti-European Policies and Maritime Restrictions
During the 1500s, Japan was a very popular place for European traders and missionaries. The first Europeans, from Portugal, arrived in Japan in 1543. This started a period of trade called Nanban bōeki. Soon, ships from Spain, the Netherlands, and England also came to Japan.
In 1549, a missionary named Francis Xavier arrived. He started a big campaign to spread Christianity. Some daimyō lords on the island of Kyūshū even became Christians to keep their trade with Europeans. By the early 1600s, about half a million Japanese people had become Christians.
However, some Japanese leaders began to worry about the Europeans. After Spain took over the Philippines, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful leader before the Tokugawa, started to doubt the Europeans' true intentions. He worried about the loyalty of Christian daimyōs. He issued rules against Christians, telling foreign missionaries to leave.
It was during Tokugawa Iemitsu's rule that these anti-Christian policies became much stronger and more permanent.
The "Sakoku Edict of 1635"
In the 1630s, Iemitsu ordered almost all Europeans to leave Japan. Only one Dutch ship was allowed to trade each year. Iemitsu made these rules even stricter after two Portuguese men tried to ask for the old trade policies to be brought back, and they were executed.
The most famous of Iemitsu's rules was the Sakoku Edict of 1635. This edict had the main restrictions:
- It was forbidden for any Japanese ship or person to travel to another country or to return to Japan. The punishment for breaking this rule was death.
- The edict offered rewards for anyone who reported priests or followers secretly practicing Christianity.
- Every new ship arriving in Japan had to be carefully checked for Catholic priests.
- Merchants from other countries had to list their goods before they could trade.
- The edict also set rules for when foreign ships had to leave and how trade prices were set.
These rules were so strong that Japan's ports did not fully open to the world again until the 1850s. During this long period, Westerners could not freely travel in Japan, and Japanese people could not travel overseas. As mentioned, this time is often called sakoku, or "the Closed Country." But many experts now say Japan was not truly "closed." Instead, it simply controlled its international interactions very carefully.
Eras During Iemitsu's Rule
The years when Iemitsu was shōgun are known by different Japanese era names:
Images for kids
-
Iemitsu's signature.
See also
In Spanish: Tokugawa Iemitsu para niños
