Yamagata Domain
Encyclopedia
Yamagata Domain was a Japanese fief (han), located in Dewa province
, in the Tōhoku region (north-eastern Honshū
). Modern-day Yamagata Prefecture
is roughly contiguous with the domain, and its capital city, also called Yamagata
, grew up out of the daimyo's (feudal lord's) castle town. Unlike some han whose control was relatively stable throughout the Edo period
(1603-1867), Yamagata changed hands a great number of times within a very short space of time.
Originally populated by the Ezo
(aboriginal peoples), Yamagata came to be the fief of the Ōshū
branch of the Fujiwara family
in the Heian period
(794-1185).
In the Sengoku
(1467-1603) and Edo periods, the territory changed hands a number of times, and came to play an important role in the battles immediately leading up to the Sekigahara Campaign of 1600. At the time, Yamagata was controlled by Mogami Yoshiaki
who had taken it from the Uesugi family. Along with a number of allies, he defended the domain from the army of Naoe Kanetsugu
, an ally of Ishida Mitsunari
, who made his way towards Yamagata from the neighboring Yonezawa Domain
, with an army of 20,000. Ultimately, though Mogami and others engaged Naoe's forces a number of times, no battle was fought at Yamagata Castle. With the help of Date Masamune
, Naoe's armies were held off until news of Ishida Mitsunari's defeat by Tokugawa Ieyasu
at Sekigahara was heard, and Naoe withdrew.
Following Sekigahara, Yamagata was formally established as a han by the Tokugawa shogunate
, and assigned to the Mogami clan
along with an income of 570,000 koku
. However, it was reassigned to the Torii family
of samurai in 1622, with an income of 220,000 koku. They held it but briefly; in 1636, the domain reverted to the control of the shogunate, due to the lack of a Torii heir. The Okudaira and Matsudaira families, branches of the shogunal Tokugawa clan, would control Yamagata intermittently from then on, in between other daimyo families.
Some time later, Yamagata's lord Okudaira Tadamasa
died, many of his retainers and would-be heirs committed junshi
, killing themselves in order to loyally follow their lord into death. Thus, the han fell to Hotta Masanaka. However, Masanaka's father, Hotta Masatoshi
, killed someone inside the shogun's capital of Edo castle
, and thus had his family's lands seized.
After a number of further generations of Tokugawa branch family lords, the domain came to be held by the Akimoto family, and then the Mizuno family.
Dewa Province
is an old province of Japan, comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. It was sometimes called .-Historical record:...
, in the Tōhoku region (north-eastern Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
). Modern-day Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
is roughly contiguous with the domain, and its capital city, also called Yamagata
Yamagata, Yamagata
is the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture in Japan.As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 253,951 with 97,457 households and a population density of 665.94 persons per km². The total area is 381.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1889.-Culture:The , one of Tōhoku's...
, grew up out of the daimyo's (feudal lord's) castle town. Unlike some han whose control was relatively stable throughout the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
(1603-1867), Yamagata changed hands a great number of times within a very short space of time.
Originally populated by the Ezo
Ezo
is a Japanese name which historically referred to the lands to the north of Japan. It was used in various senses, sometimes meaning the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō, and sometimes meaning lands and waters further north in the Sea of Okhotsk, like Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands...
(aboriginal peoples), Yamagata came to be the fief of the Ōshū
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
branch of the Fujiwara family
Fujiwara family
The Fujiwara clan , descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of regents in Japan.The clan originated when the founder, Nakatomi no Kamatari , was rewarded by Emperor Tenji with the honorific "Fujiwara", which evolved as a surname for Kamatari and his descendants...
in the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
(794-1185).
In the Sengoku
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
(1467-1603) and Edo periods, the territory changed hands a number of times, and came to play an important role in the battles immediately leading up to the Sekigahara Campaign of 1600. At the time, Yamagata was controlled by Mogami Yoshiaki
Mogami Yoshiaki
was a daimyō of the Yamagata domain in Dewa Province, in the late Sengoku period and early Edo period.-Life:Mogami Yoshiaki was the first son of Mogami Yoshimori , and succeeded his father as daimyō of Yamagata...
who had taken it from the Uesugi family. Along with a number of allies, he defended the domain from the army of Naoe Kanetsugu
Naoe Kanetsugu
was a Japanese samurai of the 16th-17th centuries. The eldest son of Higuchi Kanetoyo, Kanetsugu was famed for his service to two generations of the Uesugi daimyo. He was also known by his court title, Yamashiro no Kami or his childhood/adolescent name, Higuchi Kanetsugu .Kanetsugu served first as...
, an ally of Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari was a samurai who led the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. Also known by his court title, Jibunoshō...
, who made his way towards Yamagata from the neighboring Yonezawa Domain
Yonezawa Domain
Yonezawa Domain was a feudal domain of Tokugawa Japan, controlled by daimyō of the Uesugi clan. Covering the Okitama district of Dewa province, in what is today southeastern Yamagata Prefecture, the territory was ruled from Yonezawa castle in Yonezawa city...
, with an army of 20,000. Ultimately, though Mogami and others engaged Naoe's forces a number of times, no battle was fought at Yamagata Castle. With the help of Date Masamune
Date Masamune
was a regional strongman of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyo in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai...
, Naoe's armies were held off until news of Ishida Mitsunari's defeat by Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
at Sekigahara was heard, and Naoe withdrew.
Following Sekigahara, Yamagata was formally established as a han by the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, and assigned to the Mogami clan
Mogami clan
The were Japanese daimyo, and were a branch of the Ashikaga family. In the Sengoku period, it was the Sengoku Daimyo which ruled Dewa Province which is now Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture ....
along with an income of 570,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
. However, it was reassigned to the Torii family
Torii family
The Torii family was a samurai family of the late Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. Loyal retainers of the Tokugawa clan since the late 16th century, the Torii are perhaps most famous for the bravery and valor of Torii Sune'emon, who was crucified by Takeda Katsuyori at the 1575 siege...
of samurai in 1622, with an income of 220,000 koku. They held it but briefly; in 1636, the domain reverted to the control of the shogunate, due to the lack of a Torii heir. The Okudaira and Matsudaira families, branches of the shogunal Tokugawa clan, would control Yamagata intermittently from then on, in between other daimyo families.
Some time later, Yamagata's lord Okudaira Tadamasa
Okudaira Tadamasa
was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period. He was the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu's son-in-law Okudaira Nobumasa. Due to this family connection, he was allowed to use the Matsudaira surname. He was briefly adopted by Suganuma Sadatoshi; however, this adoption lasted for only five years. Upon...
died, many of his retainers and would-be heirs committed junshi
Junshi
, refers to the medieval Japanese act of vassals committing seppuku upon the death of their lord...
, killing themselves in order to loyally follow their lord into death. Thus, the han fell to Hotta Masanaka. However, Masanaka's father, Hotta Masatoshi
Hotta Masatoshi
was a daimyō in Shimousa Province, and top government advisor and official in the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He served as rōjū to Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna from 1679–80, and as Tairō under Tokugawa Tsunayoshi from the 12th day of the 11th lunar month of 1681 until his death on 7 October...
, killed someone inside the shogun's capital of Edo castle
Edo Castle
, also known as , is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. It is located in Chiyoda in Tokyo, then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate here. It was the residence of the shogun and location of the shogunate, and also...
, and thus had his family's lands seized.
After a number of further generations of Tokugawa branch family lords, the domain came to be held by the Akimoto family, and then the Mizuno family.
The line of lords of Yamagata
- Mogami clanMogami clanThe were Japanese daimyo, and were a branch of the Ashikaga family. In the Sengoku period, it was the Sengoku Daimyo which ruled Dewa Province which is now Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture ....
, 1600-1622 (TozamaTozamaA ' was a daimyo who was considered an outsider by the rulers of Japan. The term came into use in the Kamakura period and continued until the end of the Edo period.-Edo period:...
; 570,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- YoshiakiMogami Yoshiakiwas a daimyō of the Yamagata domain in Dewa Province, in the late Sengoku period and early Edo period.-Life:Mogami Yoshiaki was the first son of Mogami Yoshimori , and succeeded his father as daimyō of Yamagata...
- Iechika
- Yoshitoshi
- Torii clan, 1622-1636 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 220,000->240,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Tadamasa
- TadatsuneTorii Tadatsunewas the son of Torii Tadamasa; his fief reverted to the control of the shogunate when Tadatsune died without an heir....
- Hoshina clanHoshina clanThe is a Japanese clan which claims descent from Emperor Seiwa, and is a branch of the Minamoto clan. They were famous for their role as retainers of the Takeda clan in the 16th century. In the Edo period, the clan produced two daimyo families: one ruling the Aizu domain, the other one ruling the...
, 1636-1643 (ShinpanShinpan (daimyo)The daimyo were certain relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan. While all shinpan were relatives of the shogun, not all relatives of the shogun were shinpan; an example of this is the Matsudaira clan of the Okutono Domain. The shinpan lords were also known as kamon daimyō — non-daimyo...
; 200,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Masayuki
- Matsudaira (Echizen) clan, 1644-1648 (ShinpanShinpan (daimyo)The daimyo were certain relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan. While all shinpan were relatives of the shogun, not all relatives of the shogun were shinpan; an example of this is the Matsudaira clan of the Okutono Domain. The shinpan lords were also known as kamon daimyō — non-daimyo...
; 150,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Naomoto
- Matsudaira (Okudaira) clan, 1648-1668 (ShinpanShinpan (daimyo)The daimyo were certain relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan. While all shinpan were relatives of the shogun, not all relatives of the shogun were shinpan; an example of this is the Matsudaira clan of the Okutono Domain. The shinpan lords were also known as kamon daimyō — non-daimyo...
; 150,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Tadahiro
- Okudaira clan, 1668-1685 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
90,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Masayoshi
- Masaakira
- Hotta clanHotta clanThe was a Japanese clan that ruled the Sakura Domain in the late Edo period. Jindai-ji in the present-day city of Sakura was the clan's bodaiji, or family temple, and has many of the tombstones of prominent members of the Hotta clan.-References: ....
, 1685-1686 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 100,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Masanaka
- Matsudaira (Echizen) clan, 1686-1692 (ShinpanShinpan (daimyo)The daimyo were certain relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan. While all shinpan were relatives of the shogun, not all relatives of the shogun were shinpan; an example of this is the Matsudaira clan of the Okutono Domain. The shinpan lords were also known as kamon daimyō — non-daimyo...
; 90,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Naonori
- Matsudaira (Okudaira) clan, 1692-1700 (ShinpanShinpan (daimyo)The daimyo were certain relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan. While all shinpan were relatives of the shogun, not all relatives of the shogun were shinpan; an example of this is the Matsudaira clan of the Okutono Domain. The shinpan lords were also known as kamon daimyō — non-daimyo...
; 100,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Tadahiro
- Tadamasa
- Hotta clanHotta clanThe was a Japanese clan that ruled the Sakura Domain in the late Edo period. Jindai-ji in the present-day city of Sakura was the clan's bodaiji, or family temple, and has many of the tombstones of prominent members of the Hotta clan.-References: ....
, 1700-1746 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 100,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Masatora
- Masaharu
- Masasuke
- Matsudaira (Ogyū) clan, 1746-1764 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 60,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Norisuke
- Period as tenryō, 1764-1767
- Akimoto clan, 1767-1845 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 60,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- Suketomo
- Tsunetomo
- Hisatomo
- Yukitomo
- Mizuno clanMizuno clanThe was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. In the Edo period, the Mizuno clan produced many men who were fudai daimyo serving the Tokugawa shogun, as well as countless families of hatamoto...
, 1845-1870 (FudaiFudaiwas a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
; 50,000 kokuKokuThe is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
)
- TadakiyoMizuno Tadakiyowas a daimyō during Bakumatsu period Japan, who served as chief senior councilor in service to the Tokugawa Shogunate.-Biography:Mizuno Tadakiyo was the eldest son of Mizuno Tadakuni, the daimyō of Hamamatsu Domain and chief senior councilor in service to the Tokugawa Shogunate...
- Tadahiro