遠々洛外
  • 遠々洛外のブログ - Far Beyond the Miyako Blog

The Rebellion of Yui Shosetsu (from the Encyclopaedia of Edo)

8/8/2015

 
PictureSource: the-mystery.net
Rōnin vent their frustration at the Bakufu

This rebellion took place in the 4th year of Keian (1651), and was an attempt by groups of rōnin to revolt against the Tokugawa Bakufu.  It is also known as the Keian Incident (慶安事件). The leader of the revolt was a military strategist by the name of Yui Shōsetsu and rōnin by the name of Marubashi Chūya, Kanai Hanbe`ei, and Kumagaya Saburō Hei`ei.  

In the aftermath of the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), the Tokugawa Bakufu set about re-arranging the local of regional daimyō families or else seized their territory and drove them into ruin.  This process continued so that by the time of the third Shōgun Iemitsu there were an estimated 40,000 rōnin (masterless samurai) throughout the realm. Not content with this, the Bakufu also went about expelling rōnin from the capital at Edo and increased penalties and measures to clamp down on rōnin in general.  During the Kanei period (1624-44), new measures were imposed on daimyō to prevent them from expanding their number of household retainers, and so the unease of the rōnin grew even further.

It was around this time that Yui Shōsetsu opened up a school of military strategy in the Kusunoki style at Kanda Renjyaku (modern Chiyoda ward, Kanda Suda-machi), where many of his students were members of daimyō households as well as rōnin. At the same time, Marubashi Chūya was a renowned practitioner of the Hōzōin style of crossed spears, and opened a dōjō at Ochanomizu (Chiyoda ward). Both Shōsetsu and Chūya were dissatisfied at the way of the world and seeking a means to help rōnin. They eventually decided to join together and work to `correct` what they regarded as a corrupted Bakufu. Such was their influence that soon many rōnin were flocking to join either of their schools. 

In the 4th year of Keian (1651), Iemitsu died of illness. His successor, Ietsuna, was but an infant when he was named as the next Shōgun. Sensing an opportunity, Shōsetsu then hatched a plan whereby uprisings against the Bakufu would occur simultaneously in Edo, Sunpu (located in what is now central Shizuoka prefecture), Kyoto, and Osaka.

The plot is discovered after secret missives sent

According to the plan, Shōsetsu would make his way to Sunpu, seize the treasure of Ieyasu on Kunōzan (in modern Shizuoka city), and from there direct the rebellion. In Edo, Marubashi Chūya would direct the rōnin, destroy the fire extinguishing warehouses in Koishikawa (modern Bunkyō ward), set fire to buildings at a number of points throughout the city, and then use the ensuing chaos to attack Edo castle and seize the Shōgun.  At the same time, Kanai Hanbe`ei in Osaka and Kumagaya Saburō Hei`ei in Kyoto would lead rōnin in those cities against local representatives of the Bakufu.

However, some of the plotters got cold feet and informed the Bakufu of the plan. On the 22nd of the 7th month of the same year, Marubashi Chūya was arrested, and was later executed by crucifixion on the banks of the Shinagawa. Shōsetsu, and 10 of his accomplices, were lodging at Umeya in Sunpu when their lodgings were surrounded by men belonging to the local Sunpu magistrate. On the 26th of the same month, Shōsetsu and his accomplices all committed ritual suicide. The Bakufu then launched a nationwide search for other accomplices, rounding up another 30 or so rōnin. Shōsetsu left a will before he died, in which he explained that his intention had not been to overthrow the Bakufu but to instead rescue rōnin from a life of destitution and reform the system of politics.

This incident awoke the Bakufu to the difficulties being faced by rōnin, and so the policy of reform of the daimyō system was eased, thus making this an important turning point in the political policies of the nation. (pp.199-200) 



Comments are closed.

    Author

    This is a blog maintained by Greg Pampling in order to complement his webpage, Pre-Modern Japanese Resources.  All posts are attributable to Mr Pampling alone, and reflect his personal opinion on various aspects of Japanese history and politics (among other things).

    弊ブログをご覧になって頂きまして誠に有難うございます。グレッグ・パンプリングと申します。このブログに記載されている記事は全て我の個人的な意見であり、日本の歴史、又は政治状態、色々な話題について触れています。

    Categories

    All
    Disasters 災害
    Edo Period 江戸時代
    Japan Australia Relations 日豪関係
    Japanese Politics 日本の政治
    Japan Korea Relations 日韓関係
    Kamakura Period 鎌倉時代
    Meiji Period 明治時代
    Miscellaneous 雑学
    Muromachi Period 室町時代
    Regional Politics 地域の政治
    Second World War 太平洋戦争
    Sengoku Period 戦国時代

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    RSS Feed

© 2021 www.farbeyondthemiyako.com. All Rights Reserved.