Return to:  Outline Chronology of Japanese Cultural History
Additional references:
This page:  Chronology of Tokugawa Era People
     Imperial Reigns
     Imperial Family
     Shogunal Reign Dates and Family
     Other Interesting People
     Westerners in Japan

Imperial Reign Names:
1596-1615 Keicho Œc’·™
1615-1624 Genna Œ³˜a
1624-1644 Kan'ei а‰i
1644-1648 Shoho ³•Ϋ
1648-1652 Keian Œcˆΐ
1652-1655 Joo ³‰ž
1655-1658 Meireki –Ύ—ο
1658-1661 Manji –œŽ‘
1661-1673 Kanbun а•Ά
1673-1681 Enbo ‰„•σ
1681-1684 Tenna “V˜a
1684-1688 Jyokyo ’勝
1688-1704 Genroku Œ³βR
1704-1711 Hoei •σ‰i
1711-1716 Shotoku ³“Ώ
1716-1736 Kyoho ‹•Ϋ
1736-1741 Genbun Œ³•Ά
1741-1744 Kanpoh а•Ϋ
1744-1748 Enkyo ‰„‹
1748-1751 Kan'en а‰„
1751-1764 Horeki •σ—ο
1764-1772 Meiwa –Ύ˜a
1772-1781 An'ei ˆΐ‰i
1781-1789 Tenmei “V–Ύ
1789-1801 Kansei а­
1801-1804 Kyowa ‹˜a
1804-1818 Bunka •Ά‰»
1818-1830 Bunsei •Ά­
1830-1844 Tenpo “V•Ϋ
1844-1848 Koka O‰»
1848-1854 Kaei ‰Γ‰i
1854-1860 Ansei ˆΐ­
1860-1861 Man'en –œ‰„
1861-1864 Bunkyu •Ά‹y
1864-1865 Genji Œ³Ž‘
1865-1868 Keio Œc‰ž
1868-1912 Meiji –ΎŽ‘
1912-1926 Taisho ‘吳
1926-1989 Showa Ί˜a
1989- present Heisei •½¬

Imperial Family:
(107) 1571-1617 Emperor Goyozei Œγ—z¬“Vc (r.1586-1611)
          Worked with Hideyoshi and Ieyasu to restore power of court.  Scholar.
          ???? Keicho chokuhan Œc’·’Ί”Ε.
          1601 Ieyasu grants 10,000 koku to court.
     1579-1629 Toshihito; younger brother of Emp. Goyozei; adopted by Hideyoshi;
          1590 dismissed from being Hideyoshi's heir after Hideyori born
          1611 becomes advisor to Emp. Gomizunoo after Goyozei abdicates
          1616 weds daughter of (Tokugawa) daimyo ?Kyotoku Takatomo
          1617-1624 builds Katsura mansion
(108) 1596-1680 Emperor Gomizunoo Œγ…”φ“Vc (Kotohito ­m; r.1611-1629)
          Third son of Goyozei.
          ?1617 marries HidetadaΥs daughter Kazuko; approved by Goyozei before death
          1629 Abdicated over Shie Incident.  Was cloistered over four generations.
          note: Ieyasu gradually shifts court away from politics and into arts
(109) 1623-1696 Empress Meisho –Ύ³“Vc (Okiko ‹»Žq; r.1630-43)
          Second daughter of Gomizunoo and Kazuko (=Tofukumon'in).
(110) Emperor Gokomyo ŒγŒυ–Ύ (r.1643-1654)
(111) Emperor Gozai ŒγΌ (r.1654-1663)
(112) Emperor Reigen —μŒ³ (r.1663-1687)
(113) Emperor Higashiyama “ŒŽR (r.1687-1709)
          Court holds 99,000 koku at end of century
(114) Emperor Nakamikado ’†Œδ–ε (r.1709-1735)
(115) Emperor Sakuramachi χ’¬ (r.1735-1747)
(116) Emperor Momozono “‰€ (r.1747-1762)
(117) Emperess Gozakuramachi Œγχ’¬ (r.1762-1770)
(118) Emperor Gomomozono Œγ“‰€ (r.1770-1779)
(119) Emperor Kokaku ŒυŠi (r.1779-1817)
(120) Emperor Ninko mF (r.1817-1846)
(121) Emperor Komei F–Ύ (r.1846-1866)
          Court holds approx. 130,000 koku at time of restoration

Tokugawa Shogun Lineage:
 (1) 1603-1605 Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616)
    = after Hideyoshi dies, Ieyasu allows wife and son Hideyori to set up Osaka castle.
   1600 battle at Sekigahara; Ieyasu victorious
   1603 awarded titles from emperor: 'sei-i taishogun' (Barbarian-conquering Grand General)
    = reconstructs his lineage to link him to court (Totman 97)
   1607 retires to Sunpu, leaving Edo to Hidetada
   1613 with Holl. and Eng. to trade with, Ieyasu launches attack on Jesuits.
   1614 siege of Osaka castle: anti-Tokugawa forces had assembled under Hideyori.
    = Hideyori suicide; son (Ieyasu's grandson) executed; many ronin heads 'posted'
   1615 laws for military households: designed to nip problems in the bud.
 1615 laws: samurai should study literature and martial arts
 1615? daimyo should destroy all but one castle of their domain
 (2) 1605-1623 Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632)
   1614 under Ieyasu's direction; issues edicts against Jesuits.
   1616 reissues stronger edicts against Jesuits; apostasy nearly complete by 1630.
   1623 transfers shogun title to son Iemitsu, but continues to rule.
 (3) 1623-1651 Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651)
   1632 becomes Shogun after death of Hidetada
   1634 takes army of 309,000 to Kyoto to display his power.
   1635 sankin-kootai hostage system formalized for tozama daimyo.
   1642 sankin-kootai hostage system made compulsory for fudai daimyo.
   1649 limits size of daimyo military forces, according to size
   1650 Iemitsu asks Hoshina Masayuki (Aizu ??-1672) to be guardian for Ietsuna
 (4) 1651-1680 Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641-1680)
     = Hoshina Masayuki is de facto ruler during first half of Ietsuna's reign.
     = potential instability after Iemitsu's death led to ideological crackdown.
     = benign economy and competent advisors saved timid Ietsuna from ruin.
     = never really directly ruled: senior advisors, etc., conducted policy
     = builds Shuugakuin Detached Palace: relaxs attitude towards court
(5) 1680-1709 Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709):
     = presides over urban flourishing of Genroku period
     = unlike passive Ietsuna, Tsunayoshi governs by his own wit.
     = installed advisors who were outsiders to the entrenched bureaucracy
    1680-1715 Arai Hakuseki was top government director
     = made succession difficult after he died; condemned by successors
     = aspired to be Confucian scholar/sage/king; added ceremonies to calendar
          = builds Confucian shrine and study center in Yushima (Edo).
     = supports Buddhism: allots 200,000-ryoo for temples Gokoku-ji, Kan'ei-ji.
     = regulations designed to mitigate samurai violence; cultivate compassion
     = shelters for needy, etc.; 1695 established dog pounds;
    1680s bakufu reserves were gone; must tax (tariff, grab) more, spend less
     = flood of sumptuary regulations (picking up where Iemitsu left off): see Shively.
     = clothing, housing, food, etc.; ideological link between status and consumption
    1687 laws protecting animals (dogs) over humans: cause him to lose popularity
          = he enacted law after being told he was childless because he was born in year of Dog.
          = afraid of hurting their dogs, people let them loose: 48,700 strays given shelter...
    1705 dissolves Yodoya merchant house; takes its wealth.
     = younger brother of childless Ietsuna; bold initiatives countered economic turmoil.
 (6) 1709-1712 Tokugawa Ienobu (1663-1712)
 (7) 1713-1716 Tokugawa Ietsugu (1709-1716)
 (8) 1716-1745 Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684-1751)
    1727-1728 Ky™h™ Reforms to improve bakufu finances; daimyo formally taxed, briefly;
    = Bakufu authority strengthened, but fails to restore economic well-being
 (9) 1745-1760 Tokugawa Ieshige (1711-1761)
    = 'the most incapable shogun'
(10) 1760-1786 Tokugawa Ieharu (1737-1786)
(11) 1787-1837 Tokugawa Ienari (1773-1841)
(12) 1837-1853 Tokugawa Ieyoshi (1793-1853)
     1838-1842 chief advisor Mizuno Tadakuni issues Tenpoo Reforms
(13) 1853-1858 Tokugawa Iesada (1824-1858)
     = childless, diseased
(14) 1858-1866 Tokugawa Iemochi (1846-1866)
(15) 1866-1867 Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837-1913):
    = Seventh son of Mito daimyo Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860)
   1847 succeeds Hitotsubashi family.
   1866 reorganizes bakufu on advice of French ambassador Roche
   1867 reversion to Dajo government.

Important Daimyo Families, Domains, and Regional Affiliations
Tokugawa family branches:
    Owari (619,000 koku)
    Kii (555,000 koku)
    Mito (350,000 koku)
Tozama families:
    Shimazu (Satsuma: 770,000 koku)
    Moori (Chooshuu: 369,000 koku)
    Nabeshima (Hizen: 357,000 koku)

Other Interesting People:
1554-1642 Anraku Sakuden: priest, tea master,
    1623 ?title: compilation of humorous stories from yose (storyteller performance).
1558-1637 Hon'ami Kooetsu: calligrapher, man of arts; republished literary classics
15??-16?? Tawaraya Sotatsu: painter, from Kyoto
     Fuujin raijin-zu byoobu, etc.
1567-1636 Date Masamune: one-eyed; ferocious, ostentatious.
1571-1632 Suminokura Soan: scholar, trader
1583-1657 Hayashi Razan: Confucianist; founder of Rinke group;
     = reputed son of roonin; student of Fujiwara Seika; father of Gahoo;
     = employed with Ieyasu; advised Hidetada, Iemitsu, Ietsuna
     = early advocate of jitsugaku (useful studies), in opposition to useless Buddhism
     = rival of Kumazawa Banzan;
     = advocated neo-Confucian Shushigaku; govΥt conservative, advocates bunbu ryodo.
     = denounced Banzan by linking him to roonin, Jesuits,
     = denounces Yamaga Sokoo
1618- ?? Yamazaki Ansai:
    1636 goes to Tosa as Zen monk;
    1647 repudiates Buddhism
    1655 opens Kyoto academy
    1658-73 divides time between Edo and Kyoto
    1665-? works under Hoshina Masayuki; influential in Edo
     = govΥt conservative: advocated bunbu ryoodoo as a peaceful doctrine
     = works to strengthen Shushigaku and weaken Buddhism (esp. Fujufuse)
     = attacks Razan and Gahoo for wearing Buddhist garb
    1666 denounces Yamaga Sokoo
     = legacy of ΤSuikaΥ Shintoo and ΤKimonΥ Shushi Confucianism
??-?? Suzuki Shoosan:
     = advocated Buddhism despite decline; traded swords for sutras
??-?? Asayama IrinΥan:
    1638 Kiyomizu monogatari: advocated usefulness of Confucianism over Buddhism
??-?? Tokugawa Mitsukuni: Mito daimyo-historian
      = grandson of Ieyasu
     1657 Dai nihon shi started: massive history of Japan (concluded 1906)
??-?? Asai Ryoui:
    1667 Otogibouko: adaptation from Qu You (1341-1427) Jiandeng xinhua
??-?? Hoshina Masayuki: Aizu daimyo-scholar: advocate of Shushi Confucianism, Yoshida Shintoo
      = supports Hayashi Razan, Yamazaki Ansai, Yoshikawa Koretaru
 ??-?? Hayashi Gahoo: son of Razan
      1690~ sponsored by Tsunayoshi; 1,000-koku;
       = moves Shinobugaoka school to Yushima; called Shoohei academy
1630-1714 Kaibara Ekiken: explained Confucian teachings in plain language
1642-1693 Ihara Saikaku: Novelist, poet.
     Koushoku ichidai onna (Life of an Amorous Woman): Life story of woman who tries it all...
     Koushoku gonin onna (Five Women who Loved Love): Erotic encounters of five women.
     Nihon eitaikura (Tales from the Family Storehouse): Stories of making and losing money...
1653-1724 Chikamatsu Monzaemon: wrote j™ruri (romance plays) for bunraku (puppet theater)
     1703 Shinjuuten no Sonezaki (Lovers' Suicide at Sonezaki): Merchant Tokubei and prostitute Ohatsu...
          based on story that had already achieved popularity in kabuki theaters
     Shinjuuten no Amijima (Lovers' Suicide at Amijima): no way to stay together but in death...
     1715 Kokusen'ya gassen (Battles of Coxinga):
1657-1725 Arai Hakuseki: advocate of Western studies.
     1693-1723 Arai Hakuseki nikki: record of Hakuseki's life in politics.
     1680-1715 top advisor to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, et al.
   1715 Seiyou kibun: on European culture (printing, etc.)
??-?? Yamaga Sokoo: advocate of Kogaku (ancient studies)
      = followed Banzan, Yui Shoosetsu,
     1660~ argues that to understand Confucianism, must read ancient texts.
      = advocates bushidoo; bu (martial) over bun (literary)
     1665 Seikyoo yooroku criticizes Shushigaku as impractical
      = Sokoo is ordered into exile at Akoo by Hoshina (on AnsaiΥs urging)
??-?? Sakai Tadakiyo:
      = the most powerful advisor (roojuu) to Ietsuna from late 1660s
      = tones down criticism of Banzan, Sokoo
      = villified after IetsunaΥs death
??-?? Kumazawa Banzan:
      = advisor to Mitsumasa of Okayama; rival of Hayashi Razan
      = advocated Ooyoomei philosophy; seen as ideal samurai
      = liked Ming China; warned bakufu of dangers of Manchu takeover
     1657 retires after years of indirect threats by displeased bakufu...
      = attracts followers among nobility
      = blamed for Mitsumasa's crackdown on Buddhism
      = abandoned by Mitsumasa, who switches to Shushigaku
     1667 ordered under house arrest
      = continues to criticize Confucianism of Tsunayoshi
     1687 Daigaku wakumon: broad criticism of Edo policies
      = domino theory that Manchus will next turn to Japan
      = put under stricter house arrest in Koga
1666-1728 Ogyuu Sorai: Ancient China (kogaku) scholar:
     = social institutions are man-made, thus so are reforms
     Seidan: describes improving Japanese living standards, luxuries.
1658-1735 Hosoi Koutaku: calligrapher
1685-1744 Ishida Baigan: defended merchant class
1691-1756 Takeda Izumo: playwright of joururi (romance plays)
1695-1781 Hyakuan: Buddhist monk, playboy
1697-1769 Kamo no Mabuchi: Scholar of National Studies (kokugaku)
      = founder of Kenmon School (30% women);
      = disciples: Katori Nabiko, Toki Tsukubako,
??-??Asai Ryooi:
      = wrote kinpiramono puppet plays: single-minded hero conquers villains...
      = resonates with Banzan, Sokoo,
      = popularity of plays may have related to persecution of Banzan, Sokoo
1718-1759 Baba Bunk™: from Iyo; 1750 to Edo; writes satire; masterless;
1729-1779 Hiraga Gennai: Doctor, technologist (thermometers, etc.), gesaku writer.
     1763 Fuuryuu Shidooken den: satire of contemporary storyteller Shidooken
1730-1801 Motoori Norinaga: Kokugaku scholar
     1771 Naobi no mitama: argues Japan has nothing to learn from Chinese tradition.
     1798 Kojikiden: philological studies of ancient 'purely' Japanese genesis myth
1732-1806 Arakida Rei: woman writer of monogatari
1733-1817 Sugita Genpaku: Doctor, Dutch studies scholar,
     Kaitai shinsho: translation of book on dissection.
     Rangaku kotohajime: firsthand account of introduction of Dutch studies to Japan.
1734-1809 Ueda Akinari: writer of supernatural stories.
     1808 Harusame monogatari: Rural ghost stories
1738-1793 Hayashi Shihei:
     Kaikokuheidan (Coastal Defense): military discussion, gets Hayashi imprisoned.
1739-1820 Kitao Shigemasa: ukiyoe artist
     Tozainanboku no bijin (Beautiful women from east, west, north, and south).
1748-1821 Yamagata Bantoo: merchant, wrote on Western science
????-???? Yoshio Koosaku: rangaku scholar
     1774 contrasted positive image of Dutch with negative image of Edo commoners
     1780s-1800 was leading J-Dutch translator {Screech}
???-???? Morishima Chuuryoo: rangaku scholar
     1788 J-Dutch dictionary
????-???? Shiba Kookan:  scholar, despised obscurantism {Screech}
????-???? Kurahashi Ra'ichiroo (Kanwatei Onitake): lost nose to syphilis {Screech}
     1803 Wakanran zatsuwa: comic dialogue of Chinese and Dutch men w/ J'ese woman
1753-1806 Kitagawa Utamaro: Artist of ukiyoe portraits.
     1804 Taik™ gosai asobi (Fun with five wives): gets Utamaro imprisoned for pornography.
????-???? Tooshuusai Sharaku: ukiyoe portrait artist
     1794.05-1795.03: designed over 140 portraits over a ten-month span.
1760-1849 Katsushika Hokusai: Artist of wide variety of techniques.
     18?? Fuji sanjuuroku kei (Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji): scenic woodblock series.
1761-1816 Santoo Kyooden: wrote entertaining stories in various genres
     Edo umare uwaki no kabayaki: kibyooshi
     1800 imprisoned for violating publication prohibitions.
1764-1824 Kitao Masayoshi: Illustrator,
     Kinsei shokunin tsukushie kotoba (Omnibus of modern professions).
1765-1831 Jippensha Ikku: writer of kokkeibon (farcical stories).
     1802-22 “ŒŠC“Ή’†•GŒI–Ρ: Slapstick city bumpkins travel the countryside.
1767-1848 Takizawa Bakin: writer of yomihon.
     1814-41 “쑍—’Œ©”ͺŒ’“`: Eight heroes born from a dog fulfill destinies of Confucian virtue.
1769-1825 Utagawa Toyokuni I: ukiyo-e artist; portraits of women
     = ? initiates practice of writing ads (•ρπ•Ά)
1769-1850 Satoo Nobuhiro: Agriculture scholar; espoused absolutist politics
1776-1822 Shikitei Sanba: started fad for gookan ‡Šͺ.
     1812 Ukiyoburo (Bathhouse of the Floating World): Vignettes from an urban bathhouse.
1776-1824 Shimizu Hamaomi: woman writer; disciple of Murata Harumi; {Marceau}
      1811-1823 Kenmon ikoo: edited writings by followers of Kamo no Mabuchi
1776-1843 Hirata Atsutane: Nativist scholar:
     1805 (pub.1820) Kishin shinron: New thesis on Spirits (Figal 1999:36): anti-Buddhist
     1822 Kokon yoomikoo (Past and Present Marvels): scholarly precedent for research on miracles
     1824 Senkyoo ibun (Strange Tales of the Miracle Zone):
1777-1835 Utagawa Toyokuni II: ukiyo-e artist; pupil of Toyokuni I.
1780-1832 Rai Sanyoo: Confucian scholar:
     1826 Nihon gaishi(Private History of Japan): stesses importance of imperial line
1783-1842 Ryuutei Tanehiko: gesaku, gokan, depictions of popular culture;
     Suzuki bouchou aoto no kireaji
    1829-42 Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji: retelling of Genji in Muromachi context.
     Youshabako
     Punished during Tenpo Reforms, becomes sick and dies.
1786-1864 Utagawa Kunisada: ukiyo-e artist; boar's head insignia
1787-1856 Ninomiya Sontoku: practical teachings
1790-1843 Tamenaga Shunsui: Steamy city romances.
     1832-33 Umegoyomi: Heartbreak-boy spends papa's money on geisha
     1833-35 Tatsumi no sono. Erotic continuation of Umegoyomi.
     1836-42 Megumi no hana ('36), Eitai dango ('38), Umemibune ('41-2), cont's of Umegoyomi.
     1836-37 Haru-tsuge dori.
     1842 manacled fifty days for publishing pornography; books and print-blocks destroyed.
17??-1841 Ryuutei Rijoo: Called 'elder brother' of Tamenaga Shunsui; depicted Edo merchant class.
     1820-1849 Hanagoyomi Hassh™jin: eight people involved in pratfall antics???
1797-1858 Andoo Hiroshige: Artist, illustrator of scenic woodblock prints
     1833 Tookaidoo gojuusantsugi (Fifty-three stations on the Tokaido): scenic woodblock series.
= Note: see 'Bakumatsu People' for list of those born after 1800, or who played a prominent role in Restoration.

Westerners in Japan:
Francis Xavier,
Sidotti,
Englebert Kaempfer (1690-1692 in J)
      = writes History of Japan
Isaac Titsingh (1780-1784 leader of Dutch VOC)
Carl Peter Thumberg (Swede: 1775)
      = later became president of University of Uppsala
1834 Hendrik Doeff & Francois Halma publish Dutch-Japanese Dictionary
Philipp Franz von Siebold (1820s)
Roche

Japanese People outside of Japan
1728 Gonza and S™za leave Satsuma; shipwreck on Kamchatka; sent to St. Petersburg; arrive 1732-4;
      = Orthodox Baptism; S. dies 1736; G. writes Satsuma-dialect lexicon, etc.; d.1739.
????-1828 Daikokuya Koodayuu: boat captain rescued by Russians: celebrity in St. Petersburg
      1792 returns to Japan (with two others?): granted audience by Shogun: dies under equivalent of house arrest

Regions:
Aizu: Chron of Aizu: see Shiba Goro:
 1668 Yamazaki Ansai writes house code for Hoshina Masayuki (Aizu) & Ietsuna.
  Confucian asymmetry: obey up, love down; disregard women; Shogun above all.
=================================
Takadaya Yoshibei?: Hyogo.  Captain of 1,500-koku ship Shin'etsu-maru;
     = Bakufu hires to explore northern routes to Etorofu, etc.
Kawamura Tanken?: late 1600s
     = Bakufu hires to ascertain best sea routes around Izu, then Inland Sea.
====================
Bibliography:
Totman,