Doi Toshitsura | |
|---|---|
土井 利位 | |
 | |
| Daimyō of Koga | |
| In office 1822–1844 | |
| Preceded by | Doi Toshiatsu |
| Succeeded by | Doi Toshinari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1789-06-15)June 15, 1789 |
| Died | July 31, 1848(1848-07-31) (aged 59) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
Doi Toshitsura (土井 利位; June 15, 1789 – July 31, 1848) was a Japanesedaimyō of theEdo period, who ruled theKoga Domain. He served as arōjū forTokugawa Ienari during theTokugawa shogunate.[1]
Toshitsura was born in 1789. He was known to have a scholarly inclination and surrounded himself with individuals who were scholars, artists, and calligraphers.[2]
One of Toshitsura greater cultural legacies are the diagrams he made of 86 types ofsnowflakes that he catalogued in a book he titled theSekka zusetsu, published in 1832.[3] He made his drawings by observing snowflakes with a Dutchmicroscope, and his drawings became popular among the artists of the time, who petitioned to see his work.[4][5] He would later expand his categories to 97 in 1840.[6] Toshitsura decision to bring his vassalTakami Senseki, a prominent retainer of theKoga Domain, to Nagaskiin 1836 resulted in the reproduction of a 'world map' which modern scholars have celebrated for relating trade routes and art of the time.[7]
In 1837 Toshitsura stopped a revolt led byOshio Heihachirō, defending the castle of Osaka from Oshio's rebellion.[8]
Among the officials of the Bakufu, Toshitsura was one of thedaimyō who were affected by the October 7, 1843tempō reforms. Toshitsura, who was then arōjū and heldfiefs inShimosa andSettsu, was in a position to have 13,000koku of his Settsu holdings to be confiscated by the Bakufu. Despite his previous support forTadakuni's reforms, this threatened to render him financiallyinsolvent due to debts owed to his peasants. When he failed to negotiate a settlement with his peasants he instead attempted to oppose the Shogun's requests, a decision that rivals tried to pressure him with. Toshitsura would succeed though in getting the Shogun to halt his fief reformation plans.[9]
Toshitsura was succeeded byAbe Masahiro in his capacity as rōjū in 1845.[10] He died in 1848.[2]
| Preceded by | 45thKyoto Shoshidai 1837–1838 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
