Ii Naosuke

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ii Naosuke

Role / Field:

Feudal lord who signed the Harris Treaty, briefly restoring Shogunate power.

Born:

1815-11-29

Died:

1860-03-24

Century / Era:

1815s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Ii Naosuke (井伊 直弼; November 29, 1814 – March 24, 1860) was a daimyō (feudal lord) of Hikone (1850–1860) and also Tairō of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan, a position he held from April 23, 1858, until his assassination in the Sakuradamon Incident on March 24, 1860. He is most famous for signing the Harris Treaty with the United States, granting access to ports for trade to American merchants and seamen and extraterritoriality to American citizens. He was also an enthusiastic and accomplished practitioner of the Japanese tea ceremony, in the Sekishūryū style, and his writings include at least two works on the tea ceremony. Under Ii Naosuke's guidance, the Tokugawa shogunate navigated past a particularly difficult conflict over the succession to the ailing and childless Tokugawa Iesada. Ii Naosuke managed to coerce the Tokugawa shogunate to the last brief resurgence of its power and position in Japanese society before the start of the Meiji period.

Career & Major Achievements

Ii was assassinated in the Sakuradamon incident by a group of 17 Mito and 1 Satsuma samurai on March 24, 1860. Ii Naosuke was born on November 29, 1814, as the 14th son of Ii Naonaka, the daimyō of Hikone by his concubine. The Ii clan is a prestigious lineage with Naomasa, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa, as its revitalizing founder. However, since Naosuke was the 14th son, he was not in line for a prominent position and was sent early in life to a Buddhist temple, where he lived on a small stipend from his family. Fortunately for Ii, even though he was sent to the monastery, his 13 elder brothers were either adopted into other families who needed an heir, or died before they succeeded their father.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Accordingly, when his father died in 1850, Ii was called back from the monastery and became the daimyō of Hikone, a fudai domain, and took the family name of Ii. As the daimyō of Hikone, Ii was one of the daimyōs who were eligible for a position in the bakufu, the council of the shōgun's advisors. His childhood name was Tetsunosuke (鉄之介). Ii became involved in national politics, rapidly rising to lead a coalition of daimyōs. In 1853 Ii put forward a proposal concerning the Japanese negotiations with U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry during Perry's mission to open Japan to the outside world.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1814: 1814 Milestone — Ii Naosuke (井伊 直弼; November 29, 1814 – March 24, 1860) was a daimyō (feudal lord) of Hikone (1850–1860) and also Tairō of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan, a position he held from April 23, 1858, until his assassination in the Sakuradamon Incident on March 24, 1860.
2. 1815 (1815-11-29): Birth of Ii Naosuke — Feudal lord who signed the Harris Treaty, briefly restoring Shogunate power.
3. 1850: 1850 Milestone — Accordingly, when his father died in 1850, Ii was called back from the monastery and became the daimyō of Hikone, a fudai domain, and took the family name of Ii.
4. 1853: 1853 Milestone — In 1853 Ii put forward a proposal concerning the Japanese negotiations with U.
5. 1860 (1860-03-24): Passing & Historical Legacy — Ii Naosuke passed away on 1860-03-24, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ii Naosuke

True or False: “Ii Naosuke was instrumental in preventing Japan from signing any unequal treaties with Western powers during his tenure as Tairō.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He is most famous for signing the Harris Treaty with the United States and similar treaties with other Western nations.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ii Naosuke