| Shimodate Domain 下館藩 | |
|---|---|
| under Tokugawa shogunate Japan | |
| 1598–1871 | |
| Capital | Shimodate Castle [ja] |
| • Type | Daimyō |
| Historical era | Edo period |
• Established | 1598 |
• Disestablished | 1871 |
| Today part of | part ofIbaraki Prefecture |
Shimodate Domain (下館藩,Shimodate-han) was afeudal domain under theTokugawa shogunate ofEdo period Japan, located inHitachi Province (modern-dayIbaraki Prefecture),Japan. It was centered onShimodate Castle in what is now the city ofChikusei, Ibaraki. It was ruled for much of its history by a junior branch of theIshikawa clan.
During theSengoku period, the area around Shimodate was controlled by theYūki clan, through one of the closest retainers, the Mizunoya clan. The Mizunoya later became independent underToyotomi Hideyoshi, and although under strong pressure fromIshida Mitsunari and the western daimyō, pledged allegiance toTokugawa Ieyasu during theBattle of Sekigahara, and were reconfirmed in their 31,000koku holdings under theTokugawa shogunate. Mizutani Katsutaka laid out the foundations of thecastle town and built a number of temples before the clan was transferred to Nariwa Domain inBitchu Province.
The domain was then awarded to the eldest son ofTokugawa Yorifusa ofMito Domain,Matsudaira Yorishige, until his transfer toTakamatsu Domain inSanuki Province in 1642.
The domain becametenryō territory controlled directly by the shogunate until 1663, when it was revived for Mashiyama Masamitsu, who ruled until his transfer toNagashima Domain inIse Province in 1702. He was replaced by Inoue Masamine, who had served as awakadoshiyori, but he held the post for less than a month before moving toKasama Domain in Hitachi Province. He was replaced by a junior member of theKuroda clan, Kuroda Naokuni, who ruled until his transfer toNumata Domain inKozuke Province in 1732.
In 1732, Ishikawa Fusashige was transferred fromKambe Domain in Ise Province. TheIshikawa clan ruled Shimodate for the next 130 years until theMeiji restoration. Until Ishikawa rule, the domain became known for its production of cotton. However, under the 4th Ishikawa daimyō, Ishikawa Fusatada, the domain suffered greatly from flooding, crop failure and a fire which destroyed most of the castle town. During the subsequent famine, there were peasant uprisings and the domain came close to bankruptcy. The 8th Ishikawa lord, Ishikawa Fusatomi, invitedNinomiya Sontoku to the domain to initiate various reforms. The final daimyō, Ishikawa Fusakane, served aswakadoshiyori andRikugun bugyo under the Tokugawa shogunate and helped suppress theTenchu revolt; however, during theBoshin War, he switched sides to the Imperial cause. He was reconfirmed as domain governor until theabolition of the han system in 1871.
The domain had a total population of 12933 people in 2918 households per a census in 1741; however, in a census of 1834, the castle town of Shimodate had a population of only 1637 people in 364 households.[1]
As with most domains in thehan system, Shimodate Domain consisted of several discontinuous territories calculated to provide the assignedkokudaka, based on periodiccadastral surveys and projected agricultural yields.[2][3] In the case of the Ishikawa, their holdings were almost evenly divided between Hitachi province, and Kawachi province (in what is now Osaka).
| # | Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | kokudaka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mizunoya clan (tozama) 1598-1639 | |||||
| 1 | Mizunoya Katsutoshi (水谷 勝俊) | 1598–1606 | Ise-no-kami (伊勢守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 31,000koku |
| 2 | Mizunoya Katsutaka (水谷 勝隆) | 1606–1639 | Ise-no-kami (伊勢守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 32,000koku |
 Tokugawa clan (Shinpan) 1606-1609 | |||||
| 1 | Matsudaira Yorishige (松平 頼重) | 1639–1642 | Ukyō-no-daibu (右京大夫);Jiju (侍従) | Lower 4th (従四位下) | 50,000koku |
| tenryō | 1609–1615 | |||
 Mashiyama clan (fudai) 1663-1702 | |||||
| 1 | Mashiyama Masamitsu (増山 正弥) | 1663–1702 | Hyōbu-no-sho (兵部少輔) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 23,000koku |
 Inoue clan (fudai) 1702-1702 | |||||
| 1 | Inoue Masamine (井上 正岑) | 1702–1702 | Kawachi-no-kami (河内守); Jiju (侍従) | Lower 4th (従四位下) | 50,000koku |
| tenryō | 1702-1703 | |||
 IKuroda clan (fudai) 1703-1732 | |||||
| 1 | Kuroda Naokuni (黒田 直邦) | 1703–1732 | Buzen-no-kami (豊前守); Jiju (侍従) | Lower 4th (従四位下) | 15,000 ->20,000koku |
 Ishikawa clan (fudai) 1732-1871 | |||||
| 1 | Ishikawa Fusashige (石川 総茂) | 1732–1733 | Omi-no-kami (近江守) | Lower 4th (従四位下) | 20,000koku |
| 2 | Ishikawa Fusaharu (石川 総陽) | 1733–1740 | Harima-no-kami (播磨守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 3 | Ishikawa Fusatoki (石川 総候) | 1740–1770 | Wakasa-no-kami (若狭守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 4 | Ishikawa Fusatada (石川 総弾) | 1770–1795 | Wakasa-no-kami (若狭守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 5 | Ishikawa Fusatsura (石川 総般) | 1795–1802 | Nakatsuka-no-suke (中務少輔) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 6 | Ishikawa Fusachika (石川 総親) | 1802–1808 | Omi-no-kami (近江守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 7 | Ishikawa Fusatsugu (石川 総承) | 1808–1836 | Nakatsuka-no-suke (中務少輔) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 8 | Ishikawa Fusatomi (石川 総貨) | 1836–1849 | Omi-no-kami (近江守) | Upper 5th (従五位上) | 10,000koku |
| 9 | Ishikawa Fusakane (石川 総管) | 1849–1871 | Wakasa-no-kami (若狭守) | Lower 5th (従五位下) | 20,000koku |