Tokugawa Muneharu

nihongo|Tokugawa Muneharu|徳川宗春|extra=November 20, 1696–November 1, 1764 was a daimyo in Japan during the Edo period. He was the seventh Tokugawa lord of the Owari Domain, and one of the "gosanke".

History

Muneharu was the 20th son [http://www.aichi-c.ed.jp/contents/syakai/syakai/nagoya/nag108.htm Tokugawa Muneharu: Shogun Yoshimune's Rival] . ja icon Aichi Prefectural Education Center. Accessed May 12, 2008.] of Tokugawa Tsunanari by a concubine, and a great-great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. During his lifetime, he rose to the junior third rank in the Imperial court, and held the titular office of "Gon-Chūnagon" (acting middle councilor). He was posthumously awarded the junior second rank and the office of "Gon-Dainagon" (acting great councilor). Among his brothers were Tokugawa Yoshimichi and Tokugawa Tsugutomo (the fourth and sixth lords of Owari), and Matsudaira Yoshitaka (second lord of the Mino Takasu Domain). A sister, Matsuhime, married Maeda Yoshinori, lord of the Kaga Domain, which was the richest domain in Japan outside the Tokugawa's own holdings. Muneharu did not marry, but had numerous concubines. His fourth daughter married the "kampaku" Konoe Uchisaki.

Loss of power

Given to personal luxury, in 1731, Muneharu published a book, "Onchiseiyō" (温知政要), which criticized ruling shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune for excessive frugality. In 1739, following a long dispute with Yoshimune, Muneharu was forced into retirement and confined within the grounds of Nagoya Castle. A relative succeeded him as lord of Owari, taking the name Tokugawa Munekatsu. After the death of Yoshimune, Muneharu moved outside the palace grounds. He died in 1764, but was not forgiven, and a metal net was placed over his grave to indicate his status. When a later shogun installed his own son as lord of Owari, 75 years after the death of Muneharu, he had the net removed as a gesture of pardon.

References