(Click to listen) The "Otetsudai Fushin" (assistance in construction work) ordered to daimyo involved not only providing labor but also bearing significant responsibility and costs for material procurement and overall construction management. For instance, many daimyo invested enormous sums in the construction and repair of the magnificent shrines of Nikkō Tōshō-gū. This served to demonstrate the Shogunate's authority and was an effective means of depleting daimyo finances. However, there was also an aspect where highly skilled domains showcased their abilities, creating outstanding structures that remain for posterity.
This Page's Summary in English (Click to expand and listen to paragraphs)
This page examines the policies the Edo Shogunate used to control the daimyo (feudal lords) and maintain stability for over 260 years. These policies, often a mix of "carrots and sticks," were crucial for consolidating Tokugawa rule.
In the early Edo period (Ieyasu to Iemitsu), control was strict. Key measures included: 1. Buke Shohatto (Laws for Warrior Households), which regulated daimyo conduct, castle repairs, marriages, and institutionalized Sankin Kōtai. 2. Ikkoku Ichijō Rei (One Castle per Province Law), reducing daimyo military bases. 3. Sankin Kōtai (Alternate Attendance), forcing daimyo to reside in Edo, leaving families as hostages, and incurring large expenses, thereby weakening them financially and ensuring loyalty. 4. Kaieki (confiscation of domains), Tenpō (transfer), and Genpō (reduction), used to punish or eliminate disloyal or problematic daimyo. 5. Orders to assist in shogunal construction projects (Otetsudai Fushin), further straining daimyo finances.
During the mid-Edo period, as society stabilized, harsh measures like kaieki decreased, partly due to the relaxation of rules on adopting heirs (Matsugo Yōshi no Kin). Buke Shohatto shifted towards emphasizing Confucian morality. However, shogunal authority remained absolute.
In the late Edo and Bakumatsu periods, the Shogunate's control weakened due to its own financial problems, declining authority, and the rise of powerful southwestern domains (Satsuma, Chōshū). Sankin Kōtai was relaxed during the Bunkyū Reforms. These control policies had multifaceted effects: politically ensuring stability, economically suppressing daimyo military power while stimulating Edo's economy and national trade, and socio-culturally promoting cultural exchange. However, they also led to financial hardship for many domains.