The Five Elders - Gotairo

This was the title of a position in the Toyotomi government. It was also called Toshiyorishu, and together with the Five Magistrates, they were called the Ten. In August 1595 (Bunroku 4), Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in order to stabilize the political situation after his death and to assist the young Hideyori, appointed Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, Mori Terumoto, Kobayakawa Takakage, and Ukita Hideie as his top political advisors and entrusted them with future affairs. After Takakage's death in 1597 (Keicho 2), Uesugi Kagekatsu was appointed. After Hideyoshi's death in 1698, Toshiie became Hideyori's assistant in Osaka Castle, while Ieyasu took over government affairs from Fushimi Castle. The Five Elders took away the authority of the Five Magistrates and became a body for executing government affairs instead of an advisory body. It collapsed after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 (Keicho 5).

[Yoshihisa Sasa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

豊臣(とよとみ)政権の職名。年寄衆(としよりしゅう)ともいい、また、五奉行(ぶぎょう)とあわせて十人衆とも称した。1595年（文禄4）8月、豊臣秀吉は、死後の政局の安定と幼少の秀頼(ひでより)の補佐を図り、徳川家康、前田利家(としいえ)、毛利輝元(もうりてるもと)、小早川隆景(こばやかわたかかげ)、宇喜多(うきた)秀家の5人を政治上の最高顧問に委嘱し後事を託した。97年（慶長2）隆景の死後、上杉景勝(かげかつ)が任ぜられた。98年の秀吉の死後、利家は大坂城の秀頼の補佐に、また家康は伏見(ふしみ)城において政務をとるようになり、五大老は、五奉行の職権を奪って、諮問機関から政務執行の機関となっていった。1600年（慶長5）関ヶ原の戦いにより崩壊した。

［佐々悦久］

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