Tokugawa Ietsugu
| Tokugawa Ietsugu | |
|---|---|
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| 7th Edo Shogun | |
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In office 1713–1716 |
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| Preceded by | Tokugawa Ienobu |
| Succeeded by | Tokugawa Yoshimune |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 8, 1709 |
| Died | June 19, 1716 (aged 6) |
| Relations |
Father: Tokugawa Ienobu Mother: Gekkōin |
Tokugawa Ietsugu; 徳川 家継 (August 8, 1709 – June 19, 1716) was the seventh shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty, who ruled from 1713 until his death in 1716. He was the son of Tokugawa Ienobu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Tsunashige, daimyo of Kofu, great-grandson of Tokugawa Iemitsu, great-great grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and finally the great-great-great grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tokugawa Ietsugu was born in 1709 in Edo, being the eldest son of Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu and concubine, Gekkōin. At that time, his father was shogun, and was being advised by his long-time Confucian advisor, Arai Hakuseki, who held considerable influence in the shogun's court at Edo. At the time Ietsugu was born, his father, Ienobu, was 48. His childhood name was Nobumatsu kimi. Arai had traced the Tokugawa family's bloodline back to the Minamoto family, the founders of the first Shogunate. Thus, Ietsuga also was called Minamoto no Ietsugu. He was only three years old when his father died, upon which he became Shogun Ietsugu. He married Yoshiko no Miya (1714-1758) at 1715 ,daughter of Emperor Reigen at that time he was only 4 years and Yoshiko no miya was only one year old.
Although Shogun Ietsugu assumed the role as formal head of the bakufu, he was still a toddler. As he was not old or able enough to rule, he was put under the protection and advice of Confucian scholar Arai Hakuseki. Two problems were addressed during Ietsugu's reign: currency reform and foreign trade in Kyūshū. Ietsugu did not take much care of the country's matters; and his advisors, namely Arai Hakuseki, addressed them.
In 1713, prices were rising. Thus, after various proposals (most after the death of Ienobu) submitted to Shogun Ietsugu and Arai, it was decided to create a new currency. In 1714, the new metallic currency was introduced. While rice had increased during the rule of Ienobu, after the currency was introduced during the rule of Ietsugu, it fell to a lower level.
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