Tsushima Fuchu domain

From Freepedia

The Tsushima Fuchu domain (対馬府中藩 Tsushima Fuchū han), also called the Tsushima domain, was a domain of Japan during the Edo period that controlled Tsushima Province and a small portion of Hizen Province. It was ruled by the So clan. Its capital was located in Izuhara.

History

The So clan was one of few daimyo during the Edo period who continued to control their feuds from medieval times. Although it fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, The Tokugawa shogunate allowed the So clan to continue to rule Tsushima and entrusted it to diplomatic negotiations and trade with Joseon. Its services included receptions of Korean missions to Japan. The Fuchu domain sold imports and buy exports in Osaka and Kyoto. It negotiated trade and diplomacy with the Nagasaki Commissioner in Nagasaki. It had an office in Busan where daily trade and diplomatic service were conducted.

The Fuchu domain was given the status of 100 thousand koku class han although its real production was below 30 thousand koku. In the late 17th century, it prospered in Korea trade and with silver mines, but from the 18th century, it suffered from trade depression and depletion of silver ores. Its economic reforms and the shogunate's constant aide did not improve its finance. Increasing threats of Western imperial powers weighed heavily on the Fuchu domain. In 1861 a Russian naval ship occupied a port of Tsushima. What was worse for Tsushima was a growing internal conflict between pro and anti-shogunate retainers. In 1862, it concluded an alliance with the Choshu domain, which was one of the prominent leaders of the Sonnō jōi movement. But the anti-shogunate faction was purged in 1864. The loss of human resources prevented it from playing a significant role at the Meiji Restoration.

The last ruler So Shigemasa (Yoshiaki) became Governor of Izuhara Prefecture in 1869 and after the Abolition of the Han system was given the title of count (hakushaku) in 1884. The diplomatic service with Korea was taken over by the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

List of rulers

1. So Yoshitoshi
2. So Yoshinari
3. So Yoshizane
4. So Yoshitsugu (Yoshitomo)
5. So Yoshimichi
6. So Yoshinobu
7. So Michihiro
8. So Yoshiaki
9. So Yoshishige (Yoshiari)
10. So Yoshinaga
11. So Yoshikatsu¹
12. So Yoshikatsu¹
13. So Yoshikata
14. So Yoshiaya
15. So Yoshiyori
16. So Yoshiaki (Yoshiakira), later renamed Shigemasa

¹ The first Yoshikatsu died at a very young age and his younger brother was substituted for him with the acquiescence of the shogunate.