Tokugawa Tsunayoshi - Definition and Overview

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (February 23, 1646–February 19, 1709) was the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He succeeded his brother Ietsuna (both were sons of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu).

During his regime (1680–1709), he promoted the Neo-Confucianism of Chu Hsi. Late in his administration, he came to be obsessed with protection of animals, particularly dogs, since he was born in the year of the dog in the Chinese calendar. In 1687, he issued the Shorui Awaremi no Rei (生類憐みの令), an order prohibiting the killing of animals and establishing an administrator of animal protection; later, he set up kennels for feeding and boarding as many as 100,000 dogs. This resulted in his being known as the "Dog Shogun".

Tsunayoshi appointed Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu to head the administration.

Tsunayoshi's nephew, Ienobu, became shogun following the death of Tsunayoshi.

A fictional version of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi figures heavily in books by Laura Joh Rowland based in the same time period.