Tokugawa Muneharu

Japanese: 徳川宗春 - とくがわ・むねはる

Year of death: 1st Meiwa Period, October 8th (1764.11.1)
Year of birth: 26th October, Genroku 9 (20th November, 1696)
The seventh lord of Owari (Nagoya) domain in the mid-Edo period. His first name was Michiharu, and his childhood name was Mangoro, and he was called Guma. He was born in Nagoya as the 20th son of the third lord of the domain, Tsunamasa. In 1716, he was promoted to Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Accountant, and then Junior Fourth Rank, Lower. In 1719, he was given 30,000 koku of land in Yanagawa, Mutsu Province, and was made a chamberlain. In 1720, he became the lord of Owari domain after the sudden death of his elder brother, Tsugutomo. He rose from Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Shosho to Junior Third Rank, Left Middle Captain of the Konoe, Councilor, and then Gon Chunagon. His nine years of government marked a period in the history of Owari domain politics, and when he first entered the domain, he wrote a book titled Onchi Seiyo (Political Essentials), which outlined his own policy, criticizing the Kyoho reforms of the then shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, saying that too many laws were not good and that frugality would lead to waste. Based on this policy, he did not carry out the death penalty and left criminals in prison. He himself wore unusual attire and allowed the establishment of brothels in three places in the southern part of the castle town - Nishikoji, Fujimigahara and Kuzumachi - which had been banned since the clan's founding, and more than 1,000 prostitutes from all over the country gathered in the area around Nagoya Castle. The number of permanent theaters also rose to 57, and with actors from Edo and the Kansai region flocking to the area, a total of 387 performances were held. He also promoted commerce and industry, laying the foundation for the commercial development of the Ito, Sekido and Uchida families, who would later be known as the Three Houses. However, these aggressive measures were in direct conflict with Yoshimune's politics of austerity, martial arts and the rule of law, and in 1884 he was questioned by the shogunate. Although he was able to get away with it at the time, the clan's samurai spirit was in disarray and the fiscal deficit was increasing, so around 1897, restrictions were tightened, samurai were banned from entering or leaving the brothels, the brothels were reorganized, and the construction of new theaters was prohibited. However, in 1739, he was finally ordered to retire and live under house arrest, confined to Nagoya Castle. He was left with a financial deficit of over 18,000 ryo in gold and 36,000 koku in rice. After his death, his gravestone was covered with wire mesh, but in 1839, he was finally pardoned and posthumously awarded the title of Junior Second Rank Gon Dainagon. Muneharu never married a woman. <References> Tsuji Tatsuya, "Tokugawa Yoshimune," Oishi Shinzaburo, "Portraits at the Turning Point of Edo"

(Oishi Manabu)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：明和1.10.8(1764.11.1)
生年：元禄9.10.26(1696.11.20)
江戸中期の尾張(名古屋)藩第7代藩主。初名通春,幼名万五郎,求馬と称した。同藩3代藩主綱誠の第20子として名古屋で生まれる。享保1(1716)年従五位下主計頭,さらに従四位下に。同14年陸奥国梁川3万石を与えられ,侍従。同15年兄継友の急死によって尾張藩主となる。従四位下少将から従三位左近衛権中将,参議を経て権中納言に。その9年間の政治は尾張藩政史上一時期を画するもので,初入国の際,自らの施政方針を示した著書『温知政要』1巻を著し,法令が多いのはよくないとか,倹約はかえって無駄を生ずることになると,おりからの将軍徳川吉宗の享保の改革を批判している。このような方針のもと,死刑を行わず罪人を入牢のまま放置。自ら奇抜な装束をし,城下南部の西小路,富士見ケ原,葛町の3カ所に,藩祖以来禁止されていた遊郭の設置を認めたので,名古屋城下には全国から1000人を超える遊女たちが集まった。常設の芝居小屋も57座にのぼり,江戸,上方の役者が流入,興行は387回を数えたという。さらに商工業を振興し,のちに三家衆といわれる伊藤・関戸・内田家の商業発展の基礎を築いた。しかし,こうした積極策は緊縮,尚武,法治の政策を進める吉宗の政治とまっ向から対立したため,17年には幕府からの詰問をうけた。このときは言いのがれたものの,藩の士風は乱れ,財政赤字が増加したため,20年ごろ引き締めを行い,藩士の遊郭出入りを禁止,遊郭を整理し,芝居小屋の新設を禁止した。しかし元文4(1739)年に,ついに隠居謹慎を命じられ,名古屋城で幽閉生活に入る。あとには金1万8000両余,米3万6000石余の財政赤字が残った。死後も墓石に金網がかぶせられるという処分を受けたが,天保10(1839)年にようやく許され,従二位権大納言が追贈された。なお宗春は生涯夫人を迎えなかった。<参考文献>辻達也『徳川吉宗』,大石慎三郎『江戸転換期の群像』

(大石学)

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