Abe Tadaaki (阿部 忠秋, September 4, 1602 – June 25, 1671) was a high-ranking government official in Japan under Tokugawa Iemitsu and Ietsuna, the third and fourth Tokugawa Shōgun. As the daimyō of the Oshi Domain in modern-day Saitama Prefecture, with an income of 80,000 koku (earlier 50,000), Abe was appointed wakadoshiyori (junior councillor) in 1633,[1] and rōjū (Elder Councillor) shortly afterwards.
Iemitsu died in 1651 and was succeeded by his ten-year-old son Ietsuna. In accordance with the custom of junshi, a number of Iemitsu's closest retainers and advisors committed suicide so as to follow their lord in death; Abe did not engage in this practice, and was left, along with a handful of other high-ranking officials and advisors, to handle the affairs of government.
Especially remembered for his integrity, high morals, and practical sense of good government, Abe Tadaaki is known for his attempts to find employment for a number of samurai who became rōnin in the wake of the Keian Uprising, a coup d'état which failed to be executed that same year, just after Iemitsu's death. While other government ministers reacted to the uprising with the instinctive desire to expel all rōnin from Edo (the shogunal capital; today Tokyo), Abe thought it more pertinent to take a somewhat softer tack, aiding the rōnin in seeking legitimate employment, and thus drastically reducing the number who would have reason to take up arms against the shogunate.
Several years before Tadaaki's death in 1671, Sakai Tadakiyo was appointed head of the council of rōjū; Tadaaki constantly rebuked Sakai for his poor sense of proper policy, and his laidback nature. He accused Sakai of taking bribes, and of handling situations on a case-by-case basis, without any sense of overall policy or progress towards a goal. Nevertheless, after thirty-eight years of loyal service to the shogunate, Tadaaki died aged 69, leaving the government in the hands of the likes of those whose policies (or dire lack thereof) would lead over the course of several decades to the Genroku period (1688–1704), which saw a peak in corruption, hedonism, and wastefulness.
Notesedit
^Though Frederic gives 1663 as the date for this event, Sansom gives 1633, which seems more likely given the context and the other events and actions of his life.
Referencesedit
Frederic, Louis (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Sansom, George (1963). A History of Japan: 1615–1867. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
tadaaki, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2018, learn, when, remove, th. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Abe Tadaaki 阿部 忠秋 September 4 1602 June 25 1671 was a high ranking government official in Japan under Tokugawa Iemitsu and Ietsuna the third and fourth Tokugawa Shōgun As the daimyō of the Oshi Domain in modern day Saitama Prefecture with an income of 80 000 koku earlier 50 000 Abe was appointed wakadoshiyori junior councillor in 1633 1 and rōju Elder Councillor shortly afterwards Abe TadaakiDaimyō of OshiIn office 1639 1671Preceded byMatsudaira NobutsunaSucceeded byAbe MasayoshiPersonal detailsBornEdo Japan In this Japanese name the surname is Abe Iemitsu died in 1651 and was succeeded by his ten year old son Ietsuna In accordance with the custom of junshi a number of Iemitsu s closest retainers and advisors committed suicide so as to follow their lord in death Abe did not engage in this practice and was left along with a handful of other high ranking officials and advisors to handle the affairs of government Especially remembered for his integrity high morals and practical sense of good government Abe Tadaaki is known for his attempts to find employment for a number of samurai who became rōnin in the wake of the Keian Uprising a coup d etat which failed to be executed that same year just after Iemitsu s death While other government ministers reacted to the uprising with the instinctive desire to expel all rōnin from Edo the shogunal capital today Tokyo Abe thought it more pertinent to take a somewhat softer tack aiding the rōnin in seeking legitimate employment and thus drastically reducing the number who would have reason to take up arms against the shogunate Several years before Tadaaki s death in 1671 Sakai Tadakiyo was appointed head of the council of rōju Tadaaki constantly rebuked Sakai for his poor sense of proper policy and his laidback nature He accused Sakai of taking bribes and of handling situations on a case by case basis without any sense of overall policy or progress towards a goal Nevertheless after thirty eight years of loyal service to the shogunate Tadaaki died aged 69 leaving the government in the hands of the likes of those whose policies or dire lack thereof would lead over the course of several decades to the Genroku period 1688 1704 which saw a peak in corruption hedonism and wastefulness Notes edit Though Frederic gives 1663 as the date for this event Sansom gives 1633 which seems more likely given the context and the other events and actions of his life References editFrederic Louis 2002 Japan Encyclopedia Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press Sansom George 1963 A History of Japan 1615 1867 Stanford California Stanford University Press Preceded byHineno Yoshiaki Daimyō of Mibu1635 1639 Succeeded byMiura Masatsugu Preceded byMatsudaira Nobutsuna Daimyō of Oshi1639 1671 Succeeded byAbe Masayoshi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abe Tadaaki amp oldid 1173374167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
