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【Ii Naosuke】

Ii Naosuke (1815–1860) is remembered for his efforts to promote traditional arts and crafts, his involvement in opening up trade with the West, and the untimely circumstances of his death—by assassination.

Naosuke was born the fourteenth son of the daimyo Ii Naonaka (1766–1831). His mother, Tomi, was one of Naonaka’s concubines. Having numerous older brothers, there was never any expectation that Naosuke would be made the lord of Hikone, and he spent his youth studying at a Buddhist temple. At 17, Naosuke moved into a small residence in the castle complex, which he shared with Naonaka’s fifteenth son, Ii Naoyasu (1820–1888). Three years later, the younger Naoyasu was adopted into a different daimyo family, but Naosuke received no such opportunity. He spent the next twelve years living in that small residence. During that time, Naosuke studied philosophy, painting, poetry, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and a number of martial arts. Eventually, he gave his residence the name “Bogwood House” (Umoreginoya). The name was both an allusion to works by well-known poets of the time and a reflection of the studious life Naosuke expected to live—isolated from the strife of the world, like a piece of bogwood.

But during those years, the thirteen male siblings who preceded Naosuke either died or were adopted into other families one by one. When Ii Naomoto (1809–1845) died, Naosuke unexpectedly found himself in position to become lord of Hikone, which he did in 1850. As the daimyo of Hikone, he was appointed to a position within the shogunal government in Edo (now Tokyo). Only eight years later, he would be made tairō, or chief minister.

In July of 1853, United States Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794–1858) arrived in Edo Bay with four warships to (forcefully) negotiate the opening of Japanese ports. Japan had been a closed country for centuries at that point, but Perry succeeded in intimidating the shogunate into signing a treaty that allowed ships from the United States to dock at several Japanese ports. In 1855, U.S. Consul General Townsend Harris (1804–1878) arrived to negotiate a full trade agreement. Ii Naosuke was appointed as chief minister soon after, and he became responsible for conducting the negotiations. Anti-foreign sentiment was high, and Naosuke realized that it was prudent to consult the emperor on such a matter. He tried to stall the decision. However, a fatal miscommunication between Naosuke and his subordinates led to the unintended signing of the treaty. The decision, made without the emperor’s approval and in opposition to the views of those loyal to the court, created many enemies for Naosuke.

The shogun at the time, Tokugawa Iesada (1824–1858), was prone to illness and largely depended on Ii Naosuke to exercise governmental power on his behalf—and exercise it he did. Taking action to suppress any perceived opposition, Naosuke imprisoned or executed over 100 bureaucrats and civilians who opposed his policies. This severe measure would become known as the Ansei Purge (1858–1860). Ii Naosuke’s tyrannical actions were not without consequences—on March 3, 1860, seventeen samurai assassinated him just outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle. His assassination would come to be known as the Sakuradamon Incident.

井伊直弼

振興傳統藝術、大力推動與西方開展貿易、因暗殺而英年早逝……這些都是井伊直弼（1815-1860）留給世人的印象。

井伊直弼是前任彥根藩主井伊直中（1766-1831）的第十四子。其母親名「富」，是直中的側室之一。由於直弼兄長眾多，他原本幾乎不可能成為彥根藩的藩主。青年時代，他一直在寺院中學習，直到17歲才搬進城內的一處小宅，與直中的第十五子井伊直恭（1820-1888）一起生活。

三年後，其弟直恭被其他大名家收養，直弼卻沒能獲得這樣的機會。他在這處小宅中又生活了12年，在此期間，他學習哲學、繪畫、詩歌、書法、茶道和多種武藝。最後，他將自己居住的宅第命名為「埋木舍」。這個名字暗喻當時一位著名詩人的作品，也反映他勤奮好學的人生猶如被埋沒的木頭一樣，始終過著與亂世隔絕的生活。

但在此期間，因他的13位兄長陸續因不幸殞命或被其他家庭收養緣故，在其兄井伊直元（1809-1845）去世時，直弼意外地成為彥根藩的繼承者，並在1850年繼承藩主之位。他還以彥根藩主的身分贏得江戶（現在的東京）幕府中的地位，且於8年後成為幕府政權中地位最高的「大老」（相當於首相）。

1853年7月，美國海軍准將馬修・培里（Matthew Perry）率領4艘黑船（軍艦）抵達江戶灣，與日本就開港通商進行談判（強制性）。日本雖已閉關鎖國數百年，但培里仍然成功脅迫幕府簽訂了條約，允許美國船隻在多個港口停泊。1855年，美國總領事湯森德•哈里斯（Townsend Harris）抵達日本，與日本談判通商條約。井伊直弼旋即被任命為大老，負責談判事宜。考慮到攘外思想高漲，需要與天皇商議，直弼曾試圖拖延談判，卻因與部下在溝通上的致命失誤，最後不得不在條約上簽字蓋章。此一決定因未得到天皇認可，遭到日本尊王派的反對，直弼也因此樹立許多政敵。

當時的將軍德川家定（1824-1858）體弱多病，幕府政局大多仰賴井伊直弼主持。為了鎮壓反對派，直弼將反對其政策的100多名官員和民間人士投獄或處刑，後世稱之為「安政大獄」（1858-1860）。如此的專制行為勢必會引發反抗。1860年3月3日，井伊直弼在江戶城櫻田門外被17名武士暗殺，史稱「櫻田門外之變」。

井伊直弼

振兴传统艺术，力推与西方开展贸易，因暗杀而过早陨世……这些都是井伊直弼（1815-1860）留给世人的印象。

井伊直弼是前任彦根藩主井伊直中（1766-1831）的第十四子。其母亲名“富”，是直中的一位侧室。由于兄长众多，直弼原本不可能成为彦根藩藩主。他在寺院中边学习边度过了青年时期，直到了17岁才搬进城内的一处小宅，与直中的第十五子井伊直恭（1820-1888）一起生活。

三年后，其弟直恭被其他大名家收养，而直弼却没能获得这样的机会。他在这处小宅中又生活了12年。期间，他学习哲学、绘画、诗歌、书法、茶道和多种武艺，最后，他将自己居住的宅第命名为“埋木舍”。这个名字意在暗示当时一位著名诗人的作品，同时也反映了他勤奋好学的人生。直弼犹如被埋没的木头一样，一直过着与乱世隔绝的生活。

但在此间，他的13位兄长或是不幸殒命，或是相继被其他家庭收养。当其兄井伊直元（1809-1845）去世时，直弼意外地成为了彦根藩的继承者，并在1850年登上了藩主之位。作为彦根藩主，他在江户（现在的东京）幕府中的地位也举足轻重，且仅于8年后就成为了幕府政权中地位最高的“大老”（相当于首相）。

1853年7月，美国海军提督马修・佩里（Matthew Perry）率领4艘黑船（军舰）抵达江户湾，与日本就（强制性）开港通商进行谈判。日本虽已闭关锁国数百年，但佩里仍然成功胁迫幕府签订了条约，允许美国船只在多个港口停泊。1855年，美国总领事汤森德・哈里斯(Townsend Harris）抵达日本，与日本谈判通商条约。井伊直弼旋即被任命为大老，负责谈判事宜。由于攘外思想高涨，直弼觉得有必要与天皇商议此事，曾试图拖延谈判。但因为直弼与其部下在沟通上的致命失误，导致最后不得不在条约上签字盖章。这一决定因未得到天皇认可，遭到日本尊王派的反对，直弼也因此树立了颇多的政敌。

当时的将军德川家定（1824-1858）体弱多病，幕府政局很大程度上由井伊直弼把持。为了镇压反对派，直弼将反对其政策的100多名官员和民间人士投狱或处刑，后世称之为“安政大狱”（1858-1860）。其专制行为引发了必然的反抗，1860年3月3日，井伊直弼在江户城樱田门外被17名武士暗杀，史称“樱田门外之变”。