Tokugawa Ietsugu

The 7th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. The third son of the 6th Shogun, Ienobu. His mother was Ienobu's concubine, Teruko (Gekkoin). After the premature death of his two older brothers, he became Shogun in 1713 (Shotoku 3) at the age of 4. Although he only served for 4 years, with the assistance of Manabe Akifusa and Arai Hakuseki, he completed his father Ienobu's legacy of improving gold and silver coins and reforming Nagasaki trade (Kaibakugoshi Shinrei), as well as many notable decisions due to the fair management of the Hyojosho. According to a letter from Muro Kyuso, he was intelligent, kind, and had a quiet and refined manner. In 1715, he was engaged to be the first wife of the Emperor, Princess Yasonomiya, but the marriage never took place because Ietsugu died the following year. His posthumous name was Yushoin.

[Michio Miyazaki]

"Kitajima Masamoto (ed.), "Tokugawa Shogun Retsuden" (1974, Akita Shoten)" "Naito Kyoso (ed.), "Tokugawa Fifteen Generations History" (1892, Hakubunkan)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府第7代将軍。6代将軍家宣(いえのぶ)の三男。母は家宣の側室輝子(てるこ)（月光院）。兄2人の夭死(ようし)により、家宣没後、1713年（正徳3）4歳で将軍職就任。在職わずか4年だったが、間部詮房(まなべあきふさ)、新井白石(あらいはくせき)の補佐により、父家宣の遺業である、金銀貨改良、長崎貿易改革（海舶互市新例(かいはくごししんれい)）を完成したほか、評定所(ひょうじょうしょ)の公平な運営により多くの名判決を残した。室鳩巣(むろきゅうそう)の手紙によれば、聡明(そうめい)仁慈でふるまいも静かで上品だったという。1715年に正夫人として皇女八十宮(やそのみや)との婚約がなったが、翌年家継が没したため、降嫁は実現しなかった。法号有章院。

［宮崎道生］

『北島正元編『徳川将軍列伝』（1974・秋田書店）』▽『内藤耻叟編『徳川十五代史』（1892・博文館）』

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