The Emperor’s Wish for Clemency ―― From the Second Month to the Twelfth Month of Ansei 6

The Twenty-First Day of the Second Month: A Confidential Talk with the Shoshidai

The twenty-first day of the second month of Ansei 6 (1859).Original
It was a document to the effect that Edo should be approached.OriginalOriginal

Tokutomi Sohō quotes the Chūkōki as saying, “Once again, having received a writing of the Emperor’s wishes, a confidential talk was held with the shoshidai Sakai Wakasa no kami.”Original
This means that, once again, a writing of the Emperor’s wishes had been received and discussed with the shoshidai.Original
Sohō says that attention should be paid to the two characters “once again.”Original
A decision had already come down to the regent on the seventeenth day of the second month.OriginalOriginal

The matter concerned the punishment of four senior officials.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that Edo regarded these four as the “root of the evil.”OriginalOriginal

The Seventy-Year-Old Retired Regent, and the Tutor Who Crowned Him

Sohō quotes the text of the writing of the Emperor’s wishes in full.Original
First come the demands from Edo.Original
The retired regent was to take the tonsure and retire; the Minister of the Left was to resign office and retire; the Minister of the Right was to resign office and take the tonsure; and Sanjō, the former Minister of the Interior, was to take the tonsure and retire.OriginalOriginal

The emperor “pondered this gradually and carefully.”Original
He had heard that there might be unavoidable reasons for it.Original
But, it continues.
Masamichi had “held office since the Bunsei era of the previous reign” and was now in his “seventieth year.”OriginalOriginal

Masamichi had stood in a position for the emperor beyond that of a mere teacher, though at times he had opposed the policy of national seclusion and failed to align with the imperial will.Original
In truth he had been “a senior official somewhat resented,” it says.Original
Even so, that such pity was shown reflects deep regard for the senior official, Sohō writes.OriginalOriginal

Of Tadahiro it says, “Since becoming tutor at the Crown Prince’s investiture, he served loyally in every matter and even took charge of instruction in calligraphy.”Original
This means that since being appointed tutor upon the Crown Prince’s investiture, he had served loyally in all matters, devoting himself even to teaching calligraphy.Original
Sukehiro had served diligently as steward to the Crown Prince.Original
Sanetsumu, since the previous reign, had been a man of “years of sincere loyalty” in his posts as court councilor and court liaison.OriginalOriginal

Then comes the crucial passage.Original
It had not been heard that the court nobles had secretly plotted to do “this or that” against Edo.Original
It means that all of this had arisen from the wish to keep foreigners at a distance and not defile the divine land.OriginalOriginal

“These are words of grace beyond a thousand pleas of defense,” Sohō writes.OriginalOriginal

A separate sheet was also attached.Original
The Takatsukasa retired regent was to forgo the tonsure and instead retire under confinement.Original
The Konoe Minister of the Left was to forgo the tonsure and instead resign office under confinement.Original
The Takatsukasa minister of the right was to do the same.Original
Sanjō, the former Minister of the Interior, was to forgo the tonsure and instead retire under confinement.Original
The one line held firm was that only the shaving of the head should be stopped.OriginalOriginal

Sakai’s Firm Refusal

Sohō says that, given such a gracious wish, it would only be common sense for Edo to comply.Original
But he also writes that the situation in Edo was not one that would move so easily.Original
To halt the tonsure now was something beyond consideration, it says.OriginalOriginal

Sakai first acknowledged the Emperor’s wishes as “received with reverence.”Original
That is, he had heard and understood.
But what followed was severe.
Regarding the Minister of the Left, “matters not easily settled had also come to be heard,” and in addition there were the “statements” of Irie Uta no kami and Wakamatsu Mokkō no gon no kami recorded in a separate volume.Original
This means that circumstances not to be taken lightly had come to light, and furthermore there were the depositions of Irie and Wakamatsu, retainers of the Ichijō house.Original
The investigation was not yet concluded, but there was likely no discrepancy from the depositions.Original
Therefore, to grant lenient treatment would be “ill-advised,” and how would it sound to Edo.Original
“Whatever decision might be handed down, it would be difficult to convey it to Edo.”Original
He declared flatly that whatever the decision, it could not be conveyed to Edo.OriginalOriginal

The same applied to the Takatsukasa father and son other than Konoe, and to Sanjō.Original
Even if it were thought to be a misjudgment born of loyal intent, now that “dealings contrary to the proper path” had become plain, a special pardon would only be ill-advised.Original
The petition for the tonsure should be granted at once, it says.OriginalOriginal

There was even a postscript.Original
If this were not accepted without exception this time, it would “run counter to the very wish for union between court and shogunate.”Original
This means that it would create a discrepancy with the cherished wish for union between court and shogunate.Original
Once it was granted, the matter should be settled “with all speed and urgency,” it says.OriginalOriginal

Here Sohō takes the measure of Sakai Tadaaki himself.Original
Sakai was not a man like Ii Naosuke, who held a fundamental policy of suppressing Mito and plotted a wholesale purge of the court.Original
As an individual, Sohō suggests, he might not have been unwilling to honor the imperial will.
Yet that he spoke so resolutely shows how firm Edo’s resolve was.Original
Moreover, Sohō writes, it also served somewhat to soften the harsh tone of Edo’s demand.OriginalOriginal

“Because His Highness Is of Weak Resolve”

There was a hidden meaning behind that postscript.Original
Tokutomi Sohō judges that the postscript was in fact Chigusa Arifumi’s “clever prompting.”OriginalOriginal

Chigusa held the office of Minor Captain of the Left.Original
Together with the chamberlain Iwakura Tomomi, he was a descendant of the Koga house of the Murakami Genji line.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that the two were in contact with Naitō Masanawa, the Fushimi magistrate in charge of policing the palace, and also communicated with Sakai, vigorously pursuing their maneuvering.Original
He writes that Sakai’s hard-line attitude stemmed not only from pressure on the part of Ii, but also from the backing of Chigusa and the others.OriginalOriginal

There is a letter dated the twenty-third day of the second month, given by Chigusa to Miura Yoshinobu, Sakai’s steward.Original
Last night he had gone at once to the palace, and when he reported privately through Tominokōji Hironao, the Emperor “was satisfied.”OriginalOriginal

The wording of the reply was entirely proper, but at the end it read, “would it not be better to phrase it a little more severely?”Original
He asked that it be written a little more strictly.Original
“That lord, as always.”Original
Since the regent had, even recently, failed to understand even the two characters for “before long,” unless things were hastened they would be postponed again and again.Original
They might be delayed until after the religious rites in early next month.Original
This was that postscript.OriginalOriginal

“After all, the lord’s hand is weak.”Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that it would not be wrong to say that the “puppet-masters” of Regent Kujō were, on one side, the group of Shimada and Nagano, and on the other, the group of Chigusa and Iwakura.OriginalOriginal

Tokutomi Sohō reads the pardon of Konoe Tadahiro as meaning “he had already thrown down his spoon.”Original
Meanwhile, Major Counselor Nakayama Tadayasu strongly petitioned that the punishments of Takatsukasa father and son, and of Sanjō, not be decided until “Mito’s judgment” was reached.Original
This meant waiting until the judgment on Mito had been given.Original
The Emperor was “truly troubled.”Original
Chigusa lamented this, saying, “it has become a great obstacle, and I am indeed troubled and worried.”Original
That is, it had become a great obstacle and caused trouble.Original
And he also brings up the name of Koga Takemichi, the Major Captain of the Right.Original
Tokutomi Sohō asks why, he does not know, Chigusa was in such a hurry to settle the punishments, and writes that both Koga Takemichi and Chigusa were “foxes of the same den.”OriginalOriginal

Sanetsumu’s Viewing and Transcription of the Documents

House confinement means being placed under censure and shut up at home.Original
The Minor Captain would be coming to this residence, it was said.OriginalOriginal

Presently Sanjō Sanetomi, Sanetsumu’s child and a Minor Captain, entered.Original
In his hands was a document box bearing the imperial crest.Original
By the content of the decree, he was told to put on an eboshi and konoshi before viewing it.Original
Sanetsumu put them on at once.OriginalOriginal

Tokutomi Sohō traces the course of events from Sanetsumu’s own record.Original
The previous night, by a letter from Nakayama Tadayasu, Sanetomi had gone privately to the palace.Original
The “child” made to bring out the document box was too young, so Ōgimachi Saneatsu, serving as assistant court councilor, supported him and conveyed the imperial will.Original
Without hearing the gist of the Emperor’s intentions regarding the document on the matter of the foreign barbarians and the fates of the retired regent and the others, what would people think had been done?
Though it had been conveyed with deep and earnest consideration, the shoshidai did not accept it, saying it would be difficult to notify the Kantō.Original
It could not be helped, and in the near future the matter would be settled as requested.Original
Until then, he was privately instructed to view this document.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that this viewing was not reported to Regent Kujō, and was secretly ordered to Sanetsumu alone.OriginalOriginal

Sanetsumu first washed his hands and rinsed his mouth before opening the seal.Original
Inside the box was a plain paulownia-wood case, again sealed.Original
Three folded packets wrapped in washidanshi paper—these were the imperial brush writings or copies of them.Original
A memorandum by Manabe, privately reporting on the fates of the retired regent, the Minister of the Left, the Minister of the Right, Sanetsumu, and the others.Original
Four volumes, extracted last year from the depositions of those whom the city magistrate had been ordered to interrogate, drawing out the points that implicated the four men.Original
Several dozen documents containing the depositions of Irie and Wakamatsu, household officials of the Ichijō house.Original
“It is impossible to record every single detail.”Original
Sanetsumu wrote that he could not set down each item one by one.OriginalOriginal

The depositions of Irie and Wakamatsu included the matter of a curse-prayer.Original
Sanetsumu notes that the order had come from the Ichijō Inner Minister, but in fact had been secretly entrusted by the Minister of the Left.Original
This had not been in last winter’s report, and the shrine attendant was now under investigation concerning it.Original
There were two volumes, it is said.OriginalOriginal

“Originally the documents were exceedingly numerous; but these essential ones were selected and given for viewing.”Original
This means that, from among the great mass of documents, the essential ones had been chosen and shown to him.Original
The order was that they be returned the next day.Original
Sanetomi’s return to the city went on into the depths of night, and even how it would look was a concern.Original
So Sanetsumu “reverently copied” only the essential parts in secret.Original
That is, he copied them secretly.Original

The Single Character “We”

Tokutomi Sohō says that the wording is almost the same as that of the statement of imperial intent, but that one or two points have been added on crucial matters.Original
The statement of imperial intent had been produced from this imperial brush writing, and the true meaning of the sacred will becomes clear only through the imperial brush writing itself.OriginalOriginal

Regarding Tadahiro.Original
“Moreover, he performed my crowning, and was also a teacher of the brush way.”Original
It is said that he had moreover performed the crowning for me, and had also been a teacher of the way of the brush.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that this closeness dated from the time when the emperor was crown prince, and that it was no accident that he was given especially favorable regard.OriginalOriginal

Regarding Sanetsumu.Original
“His conduct, too, is a man worthy of love and praise.”Original
This means that his conduct, too, made him a man worthy of being loved and praised.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that this single phrase carries “the weight of a thousand pieces.”OriginalOriginal

And then, a subject that had not appeared in the statement of intent emerges.Original
“This time, because I, no matter what, from earnest feeling wish to keep the foreign barbarians at a distance, I consulted even with these men.”Original
This means that, this time, from the earnest wish that I, no matter what, keep foreigners at a distance, I consulted even with these men.Original
As for the court nobles, “there is no scheme whatsoever of any inner plot to do something against the Tokugawa house, the shogun’s house.”Original
There is no inner plot whatsoever to do anything against the shogun’s house.Original
It continues, saying that this is quite different from the rumored disturbance of the Hōreki years.OriginalOriginal

Tokutomi Sohō calls this passage “words that pierced to the truth of the affair.”Original
He says that this matter was entirely set in motion by the sovereign himself, and that the various retainers were nothing more than loyal and faithful men who assisted the sacred will.Original
Tokutomi Sohō writes that the reasoning is so thorough that any shogunate official who read it would have no choice but to follow the sacred will.OriginalOriginal

However, the Kantō did not comply.Original
According to the account of Kokubu Tanenori that Tokutomi cites, the emperor repeatedly granted letters to Manabe, but they were not heeded, and in the third month Tadahiro and Sukehiro shaved their heads and resigned their offices.Original
In a commoner’s house in Yodo, a paper copied overnight by an old retainer wearing an eboshi and a konoshi.Original
On it was written that he himself was to be “loved and praised,” and that all the fault lay with “me.”Original
The morning would come when that paper would have to be returned.Original
The next day, with what thoughts did Sanetsumu close the lid of the document chest?Original

This article is a reading of Kinsei Nihon kokuminshi, vol. 41: The Ansei Purge, part 2. Tokutomi Sohō’s views are those of the 1920s and 1930s and may differ from current scholarship. The source text is a century old and may differ from current scholarship.