地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

【The Ii Family and Hikone Domain】

The Ii Family

During the Edo period (1603–1867), the country was ruled by a succession of warlords called “shoguns.” The Tokugawa government, or shogunate, was founded on the subjugation and systematic taxation of individual fiefs (han). Each han was governed by an official called a “daimyo,” a hereditary position that was typically awarded by the shogun to the head of a powerful family. A daimyo exercised significant power over his han, but the land was also assessed and taxed by the shogunate. Each daimyo was also required to provide military support to the shogunate as needed and make regular visits to the capital in Edo (now Tokyo). In 1600, the head of the Ii family was made daimyo of Hikone domain (now part of Shiga prefecture) and the family resided in Hikone Castle from 1606 to 1871.

The Ii were supporters of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) during his unification of Japan, and they were granted considerable power within the Tokugawa government. When the shogun was forced to delegate administrative matters, he turned to the tairō, a senior official who functioned like a prime minister. Ii Naotaka (1590–1659) was made tairō in 1632, and of the subsequent nine tairō who served the shogun during the Tokugawa period, four were members of the Ii family.

Hikone Domain

Hikone domain was established in 1600 as the han of Ii Naomasa (1561–1602). He was awarded the position of daimyo in recognition for his performance that same year at the Battle of Sekigahara, a crucial battle whose outcome is viewed as having cemented the unification of Japan. Hikone was important both commercially and strategically as a rich agricultural area situated on Lake Biwa and a major stop on the Nakasendō, one of two roads that connected the capital of Edo to western Japan. It was also a wealthy domain with an income of approximately 300,000 koku, or enough rice to feed 300,000 adult males for a year.

Hikone Castle

The Ii family began building Hikone Castle in 1604 on orders from the shogunate. Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted to establish defenses against a possible attack by anti-shogunate daimyo in the western part of the country. The main parts of the castle, including the keep, were completed in 1607. Construction was temporarily halted while the Ii family assisted Ieyasu in securing control of the country with the Siege of Osaka (1614–1615), and the entire castle complex, including its moats, was completed in 1622.

井伊家與彥根藩

井伊家

德川時代（1603-1867），日本由名為「將軍」的武將世襲統治，其他武將臣服於將軍，稱為「大名」。大名制和以「藩」為單位的徵稅制度是德川幕府統治的基礎。大名負責治理各藩，他們通常是強大武士家族的首領，世襲地位由幕府授予。大名在自己統治的藩內擁有非常大的權力，但其土地則由幕府分封，同時還必須負擔由幕府攤派軍役等義務。此外，各地大名在必要時須向幕府提供軍事支援，並輪流到江戶（現在的東京）「參勤交代」（江戶時代的一種制度，各藩大名輪流到江戶執行一段時間的政務）。1600年，井伊家成為彥根藩（現在的滋賀縣的一部分）的領主，在1606年至1871年間居住於彥根城。

井伊家幫助初代將軍德川家康（1543-1616）統一了日本，因而在德川政權內部擁有極大的權勢。將軍如果在行政上遇到需要授權的問題，會與地位相當於首相的的高官「大老」進行商議。1632年，井伊直孝（1590-1659）出任大老之後，德川時代輔佐將軍的9位大老當中，有4位都是井伊家的藩主。

彥根藩

彥根藩自1600年開始成為井伊直政（1561-1602）的領地。這是為了獎勵其在同年統一日本的重要戰役--「關原之戰」中的赫赫戰功。彥根位於琵琶湖畔，是富庶的農業區，也是中山道上的重要城市，而中山道是連接首都江戶（現在的東京）和西日本地區的兩條重要道路之一。無論就商業上或戰略上而言，此地均處於重要地位。而且，彥根藩物產豐富，年產糧約30萬石，相當於可養活30萬成年男性。

彥根城

1604年起，井伊家遵照幕府的命令興建彥根城。幕府初代將軍德川家康希望藉此建立一個防衛網，以抵禦西部地區反幕府大名可能發起的攻擊。彥根城包括城樓在內的主要建築於1607年完工。之後，德川家康為確立對國家的統治權，發動了「大阪之陣」（1614-1615）。井伊家為了支援家康，曾經一度暫停建城。受此影響，包括護城河在內的所有築城工程直到1622年才完工。

井伊家与彦根藩

井伊家

德川时代（1603-1867），日本由名为“将军”的武将世袭统治，其他武将臣服于将军，称为“大名”。大名制和以“藩”为单位的征税制度是德川幕府统治的基础。大名负责治理各藩，他们通常是强大武士家族的首领，世袭地位由幕府授予。大名在自己统治的藩内拥有极大的权力，其土地则由德川幕府分封，同时还必须担负由幕府摊派的军役等义务。此外，各地大名在必要时须向幕府提供军事支援，并轮流到江户（现在的东京）“参勤交代”（江户时代的一种制度，各藩大名轮流到江户执行一段时间的政务）。1600年，井伊家成为彦根藩（现在滋贺县的一部分）的领主，从1606年至1871年居住于彦根城。

井伊家帮助初代将军德川家康（1543-1616）统一了日本，因而在德川政权内部拥有极大的权势。将军如果在行政上遇到需要委任的问题，会与地位相当于首相的的高官“大老”进行商议。1632年，井伊直孝（1590-1659）出任大老之后，德川时代辅佐将军的9位大老中，有4位出自井伊家的藩主。

彦根藩

彦根藩自1600年开始成为井伊直政（1561-1602）的领地，这是为了褒奖其在同年统一日本的重要战役“关原之战”中的赫赫战功。彦根位于琵琶湖畔，是富庶的农业区，也是中山道上的重要城市，而中山道是连接首都江户（现在的东京）和西日本地区的两条重要道路之一。无论是商业上还是战略上，此地均处于重要地位。而且，彦根藩物产丰富，年产粮约30万石，相当于可养活30万成年男性。

彦根城

1604年起，井伊家遵照幕府的命令兴建彦根城。幕府初代将军德川家康希望借此建立一个防卫网，以抵御西部地区反幕大名可能发起的攻击。彦根城包括城楼在内的主要建筑于1607年完工。之后，德川家康为确立对国家的统治权，发动了“大阪之阵”（1614-1615）。井伊家为了支援家康，曾经一度暂停建城。受此影响，包括护城河在内的所有筑城工程直到1622年才完工。