Edo Period Diary Part 6: 'Why were there consecutive "reforms"? 1. Tokugawa Yoshimune to Tanuma Okitsugu'

Well now, this was another interesting episode. Following Hoshina Masayuki, whom I discovered in the text for the fourth episode, I have found yet another amazing figure: Tanuma Okitsugu. I shall talk about this person, Okitsugu, in the second half.

First, the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. He was a shogun about 50 years before Okitsugu became a Roju (senior councilor). I hadn't paid much attention to the Tokugawa lineage before, so I didn't know, but Yoshimune was from the Kishu Tokugawa family.

Until then, it had always continued from Ieyasu to Hidetada and Iemitsu, in other words, the direct line of Hidetada. However, with the death of the 7th Shogun, Ietsugu, at the young age of 8, the direct line of Hidetada came to an end.

That is why the lot fell to Yoshimune of the Kishu Tokugawa family, one of the Tokugawa Gosanke (three privileged branches). In other words, he was the first person outside the main family to become shogun. Even though it was an emergency, Yoshimune certainly rose to great heights.

Yoshimune was someone who was not originally meant to become shogun. Since he became shogun nonetheless, both he and those around him must have set sail with a mix of expectation and anxiety.

When Yoshimune took office as shogun, about 120 years had already passed since the establishment of the Edo shogunate. Japan was transitioning into a wealthy society of agricultural development and economic growth, an era of peace.

However, at the same time, there were issues such as the widening gap between farmers, the shogunate's financial difficulties, and the decline in samurai income. Therefore, Yoshimune tried to overcome these through reforms centered on "rice," such as developing new fields and increasing the amount of tax rice. This is what is known in the world as the "Kyoho Reforms."

Indeed, the Kyoho Reforms seem to have achieved considerable results. It is said that the amount of tax rice collected by villages for the shogunate reached its highest level during the 260 years of the Edo period under Yoshimune's era. As a result, it is said that 1 million ryo of money was accumulated by the shogunate.

To be honest, I have no idea how much money 1 million ryo is, but since the program described it as "as much as 1 million ryo," it must be a huge amount of money. Wow, you're doing it, Yoshimune!

However, it is "rice" after all. There is a limit to the harvest. The burden on farmers was heavy, and with poor harvests and famines added to that, peasant uprisings increased. Also, the long-standing high prices did not subside, putting pressure on the lives of townspeople. Dissatisfaction among the poor grew, and riots (uchikowashi) increased.

Because the policy foundation was shaken by the rice harvest and the feelings of the common people, even if the shogunate's financial difficulties were improved, it seems it was very unstable. It's like if you fix one thing, another breaks... it's heartbreaking.

That is when Tanuma Okitsugu appeared. It was the era of the 10th Shogun, Tokugawa Ieharu, known as the "Tanuma Era." Okitsugu felt the limits of reforms centered on "rice." So, he turned his attention to "commerce and industry."

In other words, an economy that does not rely on rice. This is wonderful. He increased the collection of "unjo" and "myogakin" (taxes) by allowing monopolies by trade associations. He also created a new currency called the Nanryo Nishu Gin and unified the currency by fixing the rate at 8 Nanryo Nishu Gin to 1 gold ryo, and so on.

These reforms carried out by Okitsugu were a transition from an economy centered on "rice" to one centered on "currency." In modern times, it is common sense that it is money, not rice, that drives the economy, but in that era, especially for samurai, business seemed to be something to be looked down upon as lowly.

For that reason, perhaps no one had noticed the importance of currency until then, or even if they had, they couldn't take action, so no one had turned their eyes to "commerce and industry" to start a money-based economy. Okitsugu was the first to tackle it. The foresight of Okitsugu to notice what no one else did is remarkable.

From here on, it's something I looked up briefly on the internet, but the Nanryo Nishu Gin in particular seems to have had historical significance. At the time, it was said that "the East uses gold, the West uses silver," meaning that gold coins were used in eastern Japan and silver coins in western Japan. And exchanging gold and silver involved troublesome procedures and fees, and the exchange rate fluctuated daily.

By creating the Nanryo Nishu Gin as a nominal currency and fixing the rate, he aimed to unify the currency, stabilize the value of money, and facilitate transactions. This is wonderful. In modern times, it is taken for granted that the currency is unified, but in that era, it was fragmented by region. It was unified by Okitsugu. You're doing it, Okitsugu!

However! I must record something unfortunate here. It seems that the effects of this "currency unification" only truly appeared after Okitsugu passed away. Wait, seriously? Okitsugu died without seeing the success of the great historical reform of the business world called "currency unification"?

Apparently, immediately after Okitsugu introduced the Nanryo Nishu Gin, it was far from a success; it caused confusion instead and was very unpopular with merchants. Furthermore, with natural disasters added to the mix, Okitsugu's reforms were branded as failures, leading to his downfall in disappointment. And he was even labeled as a corrupt politician... he must have been very regretful.

In any case, Tanuma Okitsugu, a man who took a scalpel to the principles of the shogunate system based on rice, broke common sense one after another, and pushed forward reforms toward a monetary economy, is truly no ordinary person. Although he used to be called a corrupt politician due to the influence of period dramas, his reputation has been re-evaluated in recent years. Just like Hoshina Masayuki, I intend to continue my studies of the Edo period while paying attention to Tanuma Okitsugu.

'Why were there successive "reforms"? (1) Tokugawa Yoshimune to Tanuma Okitsugu'

The Three Great Reforms of the Edo Period
・Kyoho Reforms: Tokugawa Yoshimune
・Kansei Reforms: Matsudaira Sadanobu
・Tenpo Reforms: Mizuno Tadakuni

8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune → Famous for the period drama "Abarenbo Shogun"

Policies emphasizing rice, such as new field development and increased land taxes → The Rice Shogun

The shogunal lineage changes from this era
Tokugawa main family → The head family of the shogunate founded by Ieyasu
Kishu line → Shoguns from the Kii Tokugawa family, one of the Tokugawa Gosanke (three honorable houses) → Continued until the end of the shogunate (though the last was from Mito)

In the mid-Edo period, commerce flourished and a monetary economy permeated → This was a problem for the samurai. Salaries were low and prices were high.

Impoverished samurai borrowed money from townspeople.

Disparities widened in rural villages → Wealthy farmers who hired servants versus poor farmers who pawned their land and fell into ruin → Devastation of rural villages

7th Shogun Ietsugu dies at only 8 years old → A successor is urgently sought.

The shogunate is in a serious financial crisis.

Why did it fall into financial bankruptcy despite having vast direct territories and a large economic foundation including gold and silver mines?
1. The center of the economic foundation was rice crops for land tax.
2. It was not compatible with a monetary economy.

As more rice is harvested, the price drops, which does not lead to an increase in income.

The culprit who caused the shogunate to fall into financial bankruptcy was the 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.

The Great Fire of Meireki → A massive fire in the 3rd year of Meireki (1657) during the reign of the 4th Shogun Ietsuna that burned down most of the Edo period. Money was absolutely necessary for the reconstruction after this disaster.

Tsunayoshi was a spendthrift → He loved visiting the residences of his subordinates. Also, his donations to temples and shrines were an expense incomparably higher than those of other Shoguns.

The 8th Shogun, Yoshimune, was the first Shogun to come from outside the main family line.

He became the lord of the Kishu Domain at 22 and the Shogun at 33.

Having the experience of being a domain lord from age 22 to 33 was Yoshimune's great potential.

The primary goal of the Kyoho Reforms was to increase the amount of land tax (nengu).

① Age-mai no Rei (Rice Contribution Decree) → Required various daimyo to contribute 100 koku of rice for every 10,000 koku of their domain's yield annually, and in exchange, halved the required stay in Edo for the sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) system. A win-win relationship.

The Age-mai no Rei was discontinued in its 9th year after being deemed 'successful' → There was a sense that tampering with the sankin-kotai system was problematic.

② Tashidaka System → Fixed the official salary (yakudaka) for each shogunate position, and if the incumbent's hereditary stipend was lower than the yakudaka, the difference was paid only while they were in office → Allowed for the appointment of talented individuals even if their family status was low.

Finances improved → By around the 15th year of Kyoho, as much as 1 million ryo had been accumulated.

On the other hand, high prices never subsided → 'Uchikowashi' (smashing/rioting) occurred.

Tanuma Okitsugu → Initially served as a page (koshō) to Yoshimune's eldest son, Ieshige, handling miscellaneous tasks and security.

Previously spoken of as the quintessential corrupt politician, he is now discussed as a politician with excellent economic sense.

Due to Yoshimune's reforms increasing land tax revenue, the burden on farmers grew, leading to frequent peasant uprisings → He turned his attention to commerce and industry.

A reform where the shogunate would gain profit by stimulating commodity distribution.

Official recognition of Kabunakama → Granted trade associations (guilds of merchants in the same industry) a monopoly on business in exchange for them paying 'unjo' and 'myogakin' (taxes).

Nanryo Nishugin: A silver coin denominated in gold currency units. Newly created by Okitsugu.

Until then, gold was used in the Kanto region and silver in the Kansai region, requiring procedures such as money changing.

Aiming for stability by fixing the exchange rate: 8 Nanryo Nishugin coins = 1 gold ryo.

Simplification of procedures, unification of currency: A major reform unprecedented since the beginning of the Shogunate.

Why did Okitsugu focus on commercialism? Commerce was seen as inferior by the samurai class. Okitsugu did not have a high-ranking background and was able to think freely.

Invention: Extremely sharp and full of inspiration.

He went as far as to trample on the principles of the Shogunate system based on rice. Okitsugu was the type who could take action.

In society, bribery was rampant as people tried to curry favor with those in power.

There were many others besides Tanuma who accepted bribes; bribery was built into the political system.

Giving money or goods under the name of 'tsukedoke' (gift-giving) was common in the Edo period.

Failures in new field development and mine development, the Great Tenmei Famine, frequent riots (uchikowashi), and criticism of Okitsugu.

The Great Tenmei Famine: From 1782 to 1787, with over 900,000 deaths.

Death of the 10th Shogun Ieharu: In 1786, Tanuma Okitsugu fell from power.