Ansei Purge

The Ansei Purge (安政の大獄 "Ansei no taigoku") was a purge, in 1858 and 1859, of over 100 people from the bakufu, various han, and the Japanese Imperial court. [In the name "Ansei" Purge," the noun "Ansei" refers to the "nengō" (Japanese era name) after "Kaei" and before "Man'en"." In other words, the "Ansei" Purge occurred during "Ansei", which was a time period spanning the years from 1854 through 1860."] Eight of those "purged" were also executed.

* "Ansei 5" (1858): Beginning of arrests of troublemakers by order of Ii Naosuke.
* "Ansei 6" (1859): Arrests and investigations continuing.

* "Ansei 7" (March 3, 1860): Ii Naosuke assassinated, also known as "the Sakurada-mon Incident." [Kusunoki, pp. 52-66.] The purge was carried out by Ii Naosuke in an effort to quiet opposition to his handling of the question of shogunal succession and the signing of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

Those prosecuted at the purge include:
* Matsudaira Yoshinaga - head of Fukui Domain
* Date Munenari - head of Uwajima Domain
* Yamanouchi Toyoshige - head of Tosa Domain

References

* Kusunoki Sei'ichirō (1991). "Nihon shi omoshiro suiri: Nazo no satsujin jiken wo oe". Tokyo: Futami bunko.

External links

* National Diet Library, [http://www.ndl.go.jp/scenery/e/data/229/index.html photograph of Sakurada-mon (1900)]