- Kansei Reforms
The nihongo|"Kansei" Reforms|寛政の改革|Kansei no kaikaku were a series of reactionary policy changes and edicts which were intended to cure a range of perceived problems which had developed in mid-18th century Tokugawa Japan. [In the name "
Kansei " Reforms," the noun "Ōnin" refers to the "nengō " (Japanese era name ) after "Tenmei " and before "Kyōwa "." In other words, the "Kansei" Reforms occurred during "Kansei", which was a time period spanning the years from 1789 through 1801.]Matsudaira Sadanobu was named theShogun 's chief councilor ("rōjū ") in the summer of 1787; and early in the next year, he became the regent for the 11th shogun,Tokugawa Ienari . [Totman, Conrad. "Politics in the Tokugawa Bakufu". Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988, p. 224] As the chief administrative decision-maker in the "bakufuan" hierarchy, he was in a position to effect radical change; and his initial actions represented an aggressive break with the recent past.Sadanobu's efforts were focused on strengthening the Edo government by reversing many of the policies and practices which had become commonplace under the regime of the previous shogun,
Tokugawa Ieharu . The broad panoply of changes and new initiatives became known as the "Kansei" Reforms.Sadanobu's policies could be interpreted as a reactionary response to the excesses of his "rōju" predecessor,
Tanuma Okitsugu . [Hall, J. (1955). "Tanuma Okitsugu: Forerunner of Modern Japan, 1719-1788." pp. 131-142.] The result was that Tanuma-initiated, liberalizing reforms within the "bakufu" and relaxing the strictures of "sakoku " (Japan's "closed-door policy of excluding all foreigners) were reversed or blocked. [Screech, T. (2006). "Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822," pp. 148-151, 163-170, 248.]References
* Hall, John Whitney. (1955). "Tanuma Okitsugu: Forerunner of Modern Japan, 1719-1788." Cambridge:
Harvard University Press .
* Screech, Timon. (2006). "Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822." London:RoutledgeCurzon . ISBN 0-7007-1720-X
* Totman, Conrad. (1967). "Politics in the Tokugawa Bakufu, 1600-1843". Cambridge:Harvard University Press . ISBN 0-6746-8800-7 [reprinted byUniversity of California Press , Berkely, 1988. ISBN 0-5200-6313-9]
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